Sebring Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sebring, Florida 33870
Monday, September 3, 2012 11:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot reported that during a solo flight, just prior to touchdown, he flared the airplane too high above the runway. The airplane touched down hard and bounced; however, the student pilot was able to complete the landing and did not notice any anomalies at that time. He subsequently performed another takeoff and landing uneventfully. At the conclusion of his last flight of the day, the student pilot noticed damage to the airplane. The student pilot added that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the hard landing. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall and lower fuselage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/3/2012
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Sebring
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33870
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 272723N
Event Location Longitude 0812032W
Event Location Airport Sebring Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SEF
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 62
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1115 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID OBE
Elevation of weather observation facility 33
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
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) 30.08
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) 30618
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 19 2012 3:17PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9965P
NTSB Number ERA12CA560
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 172S
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 172S10822
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 12 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 2405
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name OAK RIDGE FLIGHT SERVICES LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Haines City
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33844
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Tailwheels Etc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lakeland
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33811
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 No
Departure Airport Code LAL
Departure City Lakeland
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SEF
Destination City Sebring
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 19 2012 3:17PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 5234
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --