N6470E

Substantial
None

CESSNA 172S/N: 46570

Summary

On July 24, 2017, a Cessna 172 (N6470E) was involved in an incident near Powell, WY. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to relinquish the flight controls, which resulted in a hard landing.

The flight instructor reported that, during the landing flare about 20 ft. above the runway, the student pilot "froze" at the flight controls. She added that, she told the student pilot, "Add power – too high", but the student did not respond. The student pilot "hung on" to the flight controls, "forcing [the] instructor to push full power and physically [take the] airplane." Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and the left wing impacted the runway.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA17CA437. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N6470E.

Accident Details

Date
Monday, July 24, 2017
NTSB Number
GAA17CA437
Location
Powell, WY
Event ID
20170726X04233
Coordinates
44.872776, -108.795829
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
3
Total Aboard
3

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to relinquish the flight controls, which resulted in a hard landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
46570
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1959
Model / ICAO
172C172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
4
FAA Model
172

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
TAFT ERNEST F
Address
275 KOHLES RD
City
SUNBURST
State / Zip Code
MT 59482
Country
United States

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that, during the landing flare about 20 ft. above the runway, the student pilot "froze" at the flight controls. She added that, she told the student pilot, "Add power – too high", but the student did not respond. The student pilot "hung on" to the flight controls, "forcing [the] instructor to push full power and physically [take the] airplane." Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and the left wing impacted the runway.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA17CA437