Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary DFW08CA021

Stillwater, OK, USA

Aircraft #1

N5181A

Cessna 172

Analysis

The 28-hour student pilot landed hard and encountered a porpoise while performing a touch-and-go landing on Runway 35. The pilot reported that on this approach, he had been instructed to follow a twin-engine airplane on final approach and he maintained a final approach speed that was 10 knots higher than normal. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and the airplane entered porpoise, touching down several times. During one of the landings, the airplane pivoted enough to allow the propeller to contact the runway. In the completed NTSB Form 6120 provided by the student pilot, he recommended that to prevent further accidents, ATC controllers should not place student pilots between faster aircraft in the traffic pattern, where the student pilots may feel rushed. The pilot also recommended additional training in straight-in approaches. The winds at the time of the mishap were reported from 060 degrees at 3 knots.

Factual Information

The 28-hour student pilot landed hard and encountered porpoise while performing a touch-and-go landing on Runway 35. The pilot reported that on this approach, he had been instructed to follow a twin-engine airplane on final approach and he maintained a final approach speed that was 10 knots higher than normal. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and the airplane entered porpoise, touching down several times. During one of the landings, the airplane pivoted enough to allow the propeller to contact the runway. In the completed NTSB Form 6120 provided by the student pilot, he recommended that to prevent further accidents, ATC controllers should not place student pilots between faster aircraft in the traffic pattern, where the student pilots may feel rushed. The pilot also recommended additional training in straight-in approaches. The winds at the time of the mishap were reported from 060 degrees at 3 knots.

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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