San Antonio Intl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Antonio, Texas 78216
Sunday, May 18, 2008 17:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot stated on the pilot operator report that she was 1,000 feet above the runway and three miles out on a straight in approach to a 5,000 foot long runway when she decided to make a short field landing. The pilot "heard a pop sound" when the nose wheel touched on the first impact and the airplane bounced two more times before landing. The hard landing caused structural damage to the wing spar and to the nose gear and firewall. The student pilot was unable to taxi because of the blown nose tire.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilots improper short field landing procedure and excessive rate of descent. A contributing factor was the student pilots improper recovery from a bounced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/18/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City San Antonio
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78216
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 293201N
Event Location Longitude 0982811W
Event Location Airport SAN ANTONIO INTL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SAT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KSAT
Elevation of weather observation facility 809
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.84
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23847
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date May 22 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2008 11:48AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Antonio

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1281U
NTSB Number DFW08CA151
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model CE-172M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17266976
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 71
Airframe Hours 13728
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WRIGHT FLYERS HOLDINGS LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 461627
Aircraft Owner City San Antonio
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78246
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WRIGHT FLYERS AVIATION INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1954 First Avenue
Operator City San Antonio
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 78216
Operator Code QRFS
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 SAT
Departure City San Antonio
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
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 - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 26 2008 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record GAMW
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30R
Runway Length 5519
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --