# Accident 20251002019389A: Cessna 172S, La Junta, CO, October 2, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 2, 2025, 18:05 local time
- Place: La Junta, CO
- Airport: La Junta Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.0500° N, 103.5097° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0500&lon=-103.5097&mi=10
- Aircraft: N617SP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N617SP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER A&C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 61 total, 61 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA004) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251002019389A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PIC IS A STUDENT PILOT CONDUCTING A SOLO FLIGHT. PIC STATED THEY HAD A HARD LANDING WHILE LANDING AT LHX. UPON CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY, PIC STATED THEY BOUNCED AND VEERED OFF RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS. AT THAT POINT, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED FORWARD, COMING TO REST UPSIDE DOWN IN THE GRASS RIGHT OFF THE RUNWAY. THERE IS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE TAIL SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT TO INCLUDE MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE RUDDER. THERE IS ALSO MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE NOSE LANDING GEAR AND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN26LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA004), Oct 2, 2025: Cessna 172 (N617SP), North La Junta, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The solo student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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