General Wm J Fox Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lancaster, California 93536
Sunday, February 13, 2011 9:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/13/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Lancaster
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93536
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 344427N
Event Location Longitude 1181307W
Event Location Airport General Wm J Fox Airfield
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WJF
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 2351
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 956 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID WJF
Elevation of weather observation facility 2351
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.22
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28239
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 3 2011 6:14PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N31FC
NTSB Number WPR11CA152
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 172
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 46140
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name EXOTIC FELINE BREEDING COMPOUND INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Rosamond
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93560
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Noel Murphy
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Acton
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 93510
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code WJF
Departure City Lancaster
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code WJF
Destination City Lancaster
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 3 2011 6:14PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 7201
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --