Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX08CA010

Glendale, AZ, USA

Aircraft #1

N9914F

Cessna 172R

Analysis

The instructor reported that as the airplane neared touchdown during final approach, he set the throttle to idle, leaving his hand on the throttle. The student pilot leaned forward, moving his hand, which in turn moved the throttle forward. The airplane then ballooned on the runway. The student pilot tried to correct this by applying full right rudder. The airplane descended in a 45-degree yaw angle to the right. The instructor said that he tried to correct the yaw, but he was not successful before impact with the runway. The propeller collided with the ground and the airplane skidded off the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the firewall was damaged. The winds were calm.

Factual Information

On October 11, 2007, about 2018 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172R, N9914F, veered off runway 01 during a bounced landing at the Glendale Municipal Airport, Glendale, Arizona. AirSafety Flight Academy was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) pilot and the student pilot were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight departed Glendale Municipal Airport about 2000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the CFI reported that after obtaining clearance to land on runway 01, he instructed the student pilot to land smoothly with proper back pressure and to "look down" on the runway. The CFI stated that nearing touchdown during final approach, he set the throttle to idle, leaving his hand on the throttle. The student pilot leaned forward, moving his hand, which in turn moved the throttle forward. The airplane then ballooned on the runway. The student pilot tried to correct this by applying full right rudder. The airplane descended in a 45-degree angle to the right. The CFI additionally indicated that he tried to correct the yaw, but he was not successful. The propeller collided with the ground and the airplane skidded off the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the firewall was damaged. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for Glendale Municipal Airport was issued at 1947. It stated: winds were calm; visibility 20 miles; skies scattered; temperature 27 degrees Celsius; dew point -06 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.74 inHg. According to the Federal Aviation Administration's "Airport Facility Directory," runway 01 has an asphalt surface. The runway is 7,150 feet long by 100 feet wide.

Probable Cause and Findings

the student pilot's improper bounced landing recovery technique, improper use of the flight controls, and the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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