# Accident 20260315003239A: Cessna 177B, Cottonwood, AZ, March 15, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 15, 2026, 08:00 local time
- Place: Cottonwood, AZ
- Airport: Cottonwood
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.7301° N, 112.0351° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7301&lon=-112.0351&mi=10
- Aircraft: N178DR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N178DR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 177B (registry code 2073708, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 166 total, 136 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260315003239A

## Narrative

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

THE STUDENT PILOT, FLYING SOLO UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ON THE GROUND, ATTEMPTED TO LAND BUT LOST CONTROL DURING THE FIRST LANDING APPROACH AND EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. ON THE SECOND LANDING ATTEMPT, THE STUDENT AGAIN LOST CONTROL DURING THE LANDING PHASE, RESULTING IN A HARD IMPACT WITH THE SURFACE THAT CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO 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 WPR26LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA128), Mar 15, 2026: Cessna 177 (N178DR), Cottonwood, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard 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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