Cottonwood Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cottonwood, Arizona 86326
Monday, May 7, 1990 9:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT (SP) WAS ON HER FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. DURING THE SECOND APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOTED TO BE TOO HIGH. THE SP ENTERED A SLIP TO LOSE THE ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND BOUNCED ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE SUPERVISING CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) INSTRUCTED THE SP TO GO-AROUND VIA A PORTABLE RADIO. THE SP INITIATED THE GO-AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOTED TO CLIMB AND THEN DESCEND. ACCORDING TO THE CFI, THE SP RAISED THE FLAPS PREMATURELY. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY NOSE GEAR FIRST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS DURING THE GO-AROUND MANEUVER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/7/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City COTTONWOOD
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86326
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COTTONWOOD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID P52
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 3350
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 65
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 854
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 17 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42029
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N251ER
NTSB Number LAX90LA177
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17271075
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Apr 27 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 4932
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EMBRY RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIV
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3200 N WILLOW CREEK ROAD
Aircraft Owner City PRESCOTT
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86301
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EMBRY RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address REGIONAL AIRPORT
Operator City DAYTONA BEACH
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32014
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 905
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 4250
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --