Cessna 172S N647SP

Summary

On 18 August 2013 at about 23:15 local time, a Cessna 172S registered N647SP, operated by Harford Air services, was involved in an accident near Middletown, Delaware, 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 August 2013 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Middletown, Delaware, United States

Nearest airport

Summit Airport (EVY)

Coordinates

39.5186, -75.7208

Aircraft

Cessna 172S

Registration

N647SP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Harford Air services

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Churchville → Churchville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13CA384

Nobody was injured.

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

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the student pilot, this flight was her first solo flight and she successfully completed three solo landings. During the landing flare of the last approach, she stated that she became concerned with the airplane's speed and distance from the ground. The airplane impacted the ground “hard” and bounced. The student pilot released back pressure on the yoke and the airplane impacted the ground and bounced a second time. She stated that she pulled the throttle to near the idle position and the airplane hit the ground a third time and came to rest on the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.