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WPR13CA397

2013-09-01 · Deer Valley, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport DVT

Current FAA registration · N2134M

Make / Model
CESSNA 172S
Year of manufacture
2003 · 10 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-360-L2A (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20031216
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A1C797

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot's inadequate flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action and failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's improper go-around procedures.

Factual narrative

During a practice touch-and-go landing, the student pilot did not properly maintain runway alignment during the landing flare. The flight instructor took control of the airplane as the wheels touched down on the runway, and attempted a go-around. However, during the go-around, the flight instructor did not retract the flaps to 20 degrees, which the normal procedures require. Subsequently the airplane bounced, landed in an open area adjacent to the runway, and came to rest upright. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During a practice touch-and-go landing, the student pilot did not properly maintain runway alignment during the landing flare. The flight instructor took control of the airplane as the wheels touched down on the runway, and attempted a go-around. However, during the go-around, the flight instructor did not retract the flaps to 20 degrees, which the normal procedures require. Subsequently the airplane bounced, landed in an open area adjacent to the runway, and came to rest upright. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Instructor/check pilot - C
  • F Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of policy/procedure-Instructor/check pilot - F

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2013_WPR13CA397.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (go-around). All research papers