Aviation Accident Summary GAA19CA020

Lawrenceville, GA, USA

Aircraft #1

N996SB

Cessna 172

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that the student pilot approached the runway with too shallow of an angle. The student applied forward pressure on the yoke, and the airplane's nose pitched down. The instructor recalled that the student's pitch application was excessive, and he called for a transfer of the flight controls. However, the student remained on the controls, and the instructor had to overpower the student's control inputs while the airplane was in a 45° nose-down attitude. The airplane landed hard in a level attitude, and the nose landing gear collapsed. A fire erupted in the cabin, and the instructor used the fire extinguisher to attempt to extinguish the fire. Subsequently, the airplane slid to a stop on the runway, and both occupants exited; the fire consumed the cabin. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the cabin and wings. The instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual Information

The flight instructor reported that the student pilot's approach angle was too shallow. The student applied forward pressure to the yoke and the airplane's nose pitched down. The instructor recalled that the student's pitch application was excessive, and he called for a transfer of the flight controls. However, the student remained on the controls and the instructor had to overpower the student's control inputs while the airplane was in a 45° nose down attitude. The airplane landed hard in a level attitude, and the nose landing gear collapsed. A fire erupted in the cabin and the instructor used the fire extinguisher to attempt to extinguish the fire. Subsequently, the airplane slid to a stop on the runway, and both occupants exited as the fire consumed the cabin. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the cabin and the wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's improper pitch application, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent fire. Contributing to the accident was the student’s failure to give over the flight controls to the flight instructor when instructed to do so.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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