# NTSB investigations: Cessna 172S: Hard landing NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. Page 1 of 3 · 102 cases ## Latest cases - [NTSB CEN26LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA212.md): Cessna 172S · Georgetown, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 24, 2026 · N964SP · Substantial damage > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing. - [NTSB ERA26LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA174.md): Cessna 172S · The Rock, GA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 13, 2026 · N63405 · Substantial damage > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, porpoised landing. - [NTSB WPR26LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA047.md): Cessna 172S · Lancaster, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Nov 9, 2025 · N5199J · Substantial damage > On November 9, 2025, about 1205 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N5199J, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Lancaster, California. The pilot and passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code… - [NTSB CEN26LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA004.md): Cessna 172 · North La Junta, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Oct 2, 2025 · N617SP · Substantial damage > The solo student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing. - [NTSB ERA25LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA306.md): Cessna 172 · Baltimore, MD · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 17, 2025 · N6208C · Substantial damage > The pilot’s inadequate landing flare at night, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB CEN25LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA095.md): Cessna 172S · Waco, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 6, 2025 · N798SP · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s inadequate landing flare that led to a bounced landing, and her improper pitch control during the attempted recovery that resulted in a nose down pitch attitude upon the second touchdown. - [NTSB CEN25LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA088.md): Cessna 172S · Air Force Academy, CO · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 27, 2025 · N51387 · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during final approach after encountering an unexpected windshear. - [NTSB ERA24LA398](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA398.md): Cessna 172 · St. Augustine, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 17, 2024 · N371RH · Substantial damage > The pilot’s improper landing flare resulting in a hard, bounced landing. - [NTSB ERA24LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA033.md): Cessna 172S · Orlando, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 10, 2023 · N91PF · Substantial damage > A partial loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB CEN23LA421](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA421.md): Cessna 172S · Midland, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 22, 2023 · N391SP · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and the nose landing gear collapse. - [NTSB CEN23LA430](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA430.md): Cessna 172S · West Bend, WI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 13, 2023 · N529ER · Substantial damage > The pilot’s inadequate landing flare that resulted in a hard landing and impact with the runway. - [NTSB CEN23LA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA354.md): Cessna 172S · Clewiston, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 2, 2023 · N1403R · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing on the nose landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot. - [NTSB CEN23LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA159.md): Cessna 172S · Fredericksburg, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 17, 2023 · N478SP · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around resulting in abnormal contact with the runway pavement and a runway excursion. - [NTSB CEN22LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA281.md): Cessna 172S · Fargo, ND · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 19, 2022 · N5256S · Substantial damage > The flight instructor’s failure to adequately monitor the pilot flying, which resulted in a nose-wheel first hard landing. - [NTSB ERA22LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA065.md): Cessna 172S · Palm Coast, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 14, 2021 · N61237 · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage to the lower fuselage and firewall. - [NTSB CEN22LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA056.md): Cessna 172 · Madison, MS · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 8, 2021 · N5321A · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control following a bounced landing. - [NTSB ERA21LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA180.md): Cessna 172S · Orangeburg, SC · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Apr 6, 2021 · N22467 · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB ERA21LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA128.md): Cessna 172 · Orange, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 8, 2021 · N841SP · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing. - [NTSB ERA21LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA092.md): Cessna 172S · Culpeper, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 22, 2020 · N505LP · Substantial damage > The pilot’s decision to land the airplane in crosswind conditions that exceeded the airplane’s maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity. - [NTSB CEN21LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA066.md): Cessna 172 · Lawrence, KS · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 20, 2020 · N99HV · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s improper landing flare/touchdown which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB WPR20CA293](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA293.md): Cessna 172 · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Aug 18, 2020 · N103VK · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper pitch attitude and landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructors delayed remedial action. - [NTSB ERA20CA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA263.md): Cessna 172 · Prattville, AL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 5, 2020 · N173ME · Substantial damage > The student pilot's failure improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB ERA20CA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA165.md): Cessna 172 · New Symrna Beach, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Mar 30, 2020 · N957TC · Substantial damage > The flight instructor's delayed remedial action and decision to not go-around after a bounced landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and hard landing. - [NTSB ERA20CA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA078.md): Cessna 172 · Ormond Beach, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 26, 2019 · N882TC · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB GAA20CA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA089.md): Cessna 172 · DuBois, PA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 17, 2019 · N683SP · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power, and his subsequent improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's improper preflight… - [NTSB GAA20CA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA023.md): Cessna 172 · Louisville, KY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 15, 2019 · N6097G · Substantial damage > The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a porpoised landing, a subsequent hard landing on grass left of the runway, and a nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the student’s self-imposed pressure to land the airplane - [NTSB GAA19CA590](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA590.md): Cessna 172 · St. Augustine, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 25, 2019 · N309BR · Substantial damage > The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced, hard landing. - [NTSB CEN19LA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA302.md): Cessna 172 · La Grange, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 2, 2019 · N212BS · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB GAA19CA503](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA503.md): Cessna 172 · Ocean City, MD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 4, 2019 · N197ME · Substantial damage > The student pilot's improper landing flare with a tailwind, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing. - [NTSB GAA18CA425](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA425.md): Cessna 172 · Batavia, OH · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 13, 2018 · N12064 · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB GAA18CA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA340.md): Cessna 172 · Hillsboro, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 9, 2018 · N363CK · Substantial damage > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent porpoise. - [NTSB GAA18CA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA348.md): Cessna 172 · Orlando, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 29, 2018 · N497SJ · Substantial damage > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced, hard landing. - [NTSB GAA18CA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA326.md): Cessna 172 · Westminster, MD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 26, 2018 · N789EP · Substantial damage > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB GAA17CA479](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA479.md): Cessna 172 · Santa Ana, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 29, 2017 · N1129K · Substantial damage > A hard landing and propeller strike for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. - [NTSB GAA17CA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA337.md): Cessna 172 · Ravenna, OH · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 11, 2017 · N33FM · Substantial damage > The flight instructor's failure to perform a go-around during final approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's failure to brief the student pilot on the positive transfer of… - [NTSB GAA17CA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA351.md): Cessna 172 · Lawrence, KS · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 10, 2017 · N99HV · Substantial damage > The student pilot's incorrect control application during landing after a simulated engine failure, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and the flight instructor's delayed action to perform a go-around in gusting wind conditions. - [NTSB GAA17CA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA300.md): Cessna 172 · Clarksville, TN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 14, 2017 · N53460 · Substantial damage > The pilot’s unstabilized approach and improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, porpoised landing. - [NTSB GAA17CA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA283.md): Cessna 172 · Atlanta, GA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 2, 2017 · N704RB · Substantial damage > The student’s incorrect use of the go-around procedure, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. - [NTSB GAA17CA229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA229.md): Cessna 172 · San Marcos, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 6, 2017 · N2477F · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB GAA17CA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA122.md): Cessna 172 · Punta Gorda, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jan 12, 2017 · N10897 · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s failure to maintain proper pitch control, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing. - [NTSB GAA17CA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA104.md): Cessna 172 · Palm Coast, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 24, 2016 · N1289Y · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and porpoise. - [NTSB GAA17CA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA065.md): Cessna 172 · Sarasota, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 8, 2016 · N2272C · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB GAA17CA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA069.md): Cessna 172 · Danville, KY · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 4, 2016 · N456SP · Substantial damage > The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. - [NTSB ERA17LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA026.md): Cessna 172 · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Oct 1, 2016 · N497SJ · Substantial damage > The pilot’s improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a nose landing gear collapse. - [NTSB GAA16CA523](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA523.md): Cessna 172 · Tooele, UT · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 16, 2016 · N461SP · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing. - [NTSB CEN16CA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16CA319.md): Cessna 172S · Arlington, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 9, 2016 · N544SP · Substantial damage > The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. - [NTSB GAA16CA472](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA472.md): Cessna 172 · Kahului, HI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 10, 2016 · N335SP · Substantial damage > The pilot's incorrect pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a porpoise and hard landing. - [NTSB GAA16CA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA295.md): Cessna 172 · Thomson, GA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 8, 2016 · N124CK · Substantial damage > The student pilot's incorrect landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing, nose wheel collapse, and runway excursion. - [NTSB GAA16CA288](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA288.md): Cessna 172 · Henderson, AR · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 5, 2016 · N124ME · Substantial damage > The pilot's decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing and nose landing gear collapse. - [NTSB GAA16CA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA158.md): Cessna 172 · Frederick, MD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 23, 2016 · N65329 · Substantial damage > The student pilot's improper pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard bounced landing. Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439&page=2 ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2072439', '2072442') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '092' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent"))) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence?model=2072439 --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.