Grand Forks International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
Tuesady, July 10, 2012 9:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the student pilot, he entered the downwind leg for the runway as instructed by the tower controller. The airplane was stabilized on final approach, but the student pilot initiated the landing flare too late, resulting in a hard landing. As he turned onto the taxiway to complete the after-landing checklist, he discovered that the nosewheel tire had deflated. A postaccident examination revealed that the firewall and floorboard panels were wrinkled. The student pilot reported no preaccident anomalies or failures that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot’s inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/2012
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 940
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Grand Forks
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58202
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 475658N
Event Location Longitude 0971034W
Event Location Airport Grand Forks International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KGFK
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 845
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KGFK
Elevation of weather observation facility 845
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 --
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KGFK 101353Z 24003KT 10SM FEW070 24/17 A3013 KGFK
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) 30157
NTSB Notification Source University of North Dakota
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 26 2012 9:12AM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N548ND
NTSB Number CEN12CA426
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172S
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 172S11050
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jun 27 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 1658
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Aircraft Owner Street Address JOHN D ODEGARD SCHOOL OF AERO SCI
Aircraft Owner City GRAND FORKS
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58202-9007
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address JOHN D ODEGARD SCHOOL OF AERO SCI
Operator City GRAND FORKS
Operator State ND
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 58202-9007
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 KGFK
Departure City Grand Forks
Departure State ND
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 815
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KGFK
Destination City Grand Forks
Destination State ND
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 16 2012 4:37PM
User who most recently changed record scoa
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17L
Runway Length 3900
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --