N5329L

Substantial
None

Cessna 172SS/N: 172S9332

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, May 29, 2003
NTSB Number
LAX03LA170
Location
KAPOLEI, HI
Event ID
20030605X00799
Coordinates
21.307222, -158.070281
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's misjudged landing flare, and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and structural damage to the airplane.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N5329L
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
172S9332
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2003
Model / ICAO
172SC172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
MAKANI AVIATION LLC
Address
92-132 HIHIALOU PL
Status
Deregistered
City
KAPOLEI
State / Zip Code
HI 96707-2386
Country
United States

Analysis

On May 29, 2003, about 1020 Hawaiian standard time, a Cessna 172S, N5329L, landed hard and porpoised down the runway before coming to rest on its nose at Kalaeloa Airport/John Rogers Field, Kapolei, Hawaii. The airplane was owned and operated by Flight School Hawaii, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. The local supervised solo instructional flight departed Kapolei about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.

According to the manager at Flight School Hawaii, this was the student's first supervised solo. Prior to the accident she had been doing pattern work with her certified flight instructor (CFI), which included five takeoffs and landings. No discrepancies were noted with the student's landings. On the accident landing, the first solo landing, the airplane landed hard and began to porpoise down the runway. The student was unable to initiate a recovery before the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest on its nose.

During the accident, the airplane incurred damage to the firewall and nose landing gear. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX03LA170