N409TA

Substantial
None

Cessna 172SPS/N: 172S9040

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
NTSB Number
CHI06CA135
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Event ID
20060607X00702
Coordinates
39.830554, -86.294166
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 improper flare during landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N409TA
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
172S9040
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
172SPC172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Analysis

The airplane sustained substantial damage during a hard landing. The airplane was configured with full flaps and 80 knots on final. The pilot reported that the airplane was about 20 - 25 feet above the runway as it was "floating down the runway" and bleeding off airspeed. He reported, "Suddenly it seemed that the plane just dropped." The pilot reported the airplane ballooned so he added full throttle and aborted the landing. He returned to the departure airport and landed without incident. The inspection of the airplane revealed that the stall warning system operated. An avionics technician inspected the airspeed indicator and it indicated the correct airspeeds. The post accident inspection of the airplane revealed no preexisting anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI06CA135