Cessna 172 N31FC

Summary

On 13 February 2011 at about 17:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N31FC, operated by Noel Murphy, was involved in an accident near Lancaster, California, United States. 3 people were 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

13 February 2011 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lancaster, California, United States

Nearest airport

General Wm J Fox Airfield (WJF)

Coordinates

34.7408, -118.2186

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N31FC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Noel Murphy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lancaster → Lancaster

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

WPR11CA152

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that the student pilot was practicing short field procedures and had completed several uneventful landings. As they approached the runway, the CFI noted that the student had leveled the airplane too high. He instructed the student pilot to add power; however, the student pilot reduced power and lowered the nose. The airplane landed hard and the CFI immediately took control of the airplane, bringing it to a stop on the runway. The CFI reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall during the accident sequence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.