# Accident 20260228002599A: Cessna 172S, Centennial, CO, February 28, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 28, 2026, 12:45 local time
- Place: Centennial, CO
- Airport: Centennial
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.5701° N, 104.8493° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5701&lon=-104.8493&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1071Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1071Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 159 total, 149 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA133) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260228002599A

## Narrative

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

STUDENT PILOT RETURNING TO KAPA AFTER A SOLO FLIGHT LANDING RUNWAY 35L. WHILE ON FINAL, STUDENT PILOT THOUGHT HE FELT LOW LEVEL WIND SHEARS, ELECTED TO LAND AT HIGHER AIRSPEEDS. HE LANDED HARD, PORPOISING THE AIRCRAFT BUT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND COME TO A FULL STOP. UNKNOWN TO THE PILOT, THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RUNWAY WHEN AIRCRAFT PORPOISED AND HE TAXIED BACK TO PARKING WITHOUT ISSUE. POST FLIGHT PHOTOS SHOWED PROPELLER BENT AND FIREWALL WAS DAMAGED.

## 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 CEN26LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA133), Feb 28, 2026: Cessna 172S (N1071Z), Denver, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The solo student pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.

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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