Fresno Chandler Executive Airp Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fresno, California 93706
Friday, September 23, 2011 10:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot made several landings with his flight instructor on board. The instructor then exited the airplane and signed the student pilot off for his first solo flight. Two landings were uneventful, but on the third landing, the airplane ballooned during the flare. The airplane then pitched over and landed hard on the nose. A postaccident examination determined that the firewall had buckled.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot’s improper flare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/23/2011
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Fresno
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93706
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 364356N
Event Location Longitude 1194913W
Event Location Airport Fresno Chandler Executive Airp
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FCH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 279
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KFCH
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
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) 29.97
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) 29392
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2011 6:07PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N730FP
NTSB Number WPR11CA478
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 FPNA LLC
Aircraft Model A-22 VALOR
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 288
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 17 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 31
Airframe Hours 212
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name CENTRAL VALLEY SPORTPLANES INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1849 N HELM AVE STE 103
Aircraft Owner City FRESNO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93727-1624
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CENTRAL VALLEY SPORTPLANES INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1849 N HELM AVE STE 103
Operator City FRESNO
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 93727-1624
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FCH
Departure City Fresno
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code FCH
Destination City Fresno
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2011 6:07PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 3630
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --