Cessna 172R N9897F

Summary

On 18 May 1999 at about 18:45 local time, a Cessna 172R registered N9897F, operated by George MC Jimsey, was involved in an accident near Imperial, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 May 1999 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Imperial, California, United States

Nearest airport

Imperial County (IPL)

Coordinates

32.8597, -115.6496

Aircraft

Cessna 172R

Registration

N9897F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

George MC Jimsey

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Thermal → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX99LA185

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's misjudged landing flare, which led to an inadvertent porpoise condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Inbound to the airport, the pilot requested a landing advisory from the CTAF. They advised runway 14 was in use. As the pilot neared the airport, another aircraft asked for advisories. That aircraft was advised that runway 32 was in use and landed on it. The pilot tried to contact the CTAF to verify runway 32 was now in use, but received no response. She entered right traffic for runway 32 and noted the windsock indicated there was no wind. She overshot the turn to final but corrected to line up on the runway centerline. She flared too high and tried to correct; however, during the landing, the aircraft started to porpoise. The propeller struck the ground, buckling the cowling and firewall. The pilot taxied clear of the runway and shut down.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.