# NTSB investigations, IA: 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.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA276.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Bennett, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Aug 2, 2026 · N26KL · Substantial damage
  > On August 2, 2026, about 1318 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II helicopter, N26KL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bennett, Iowa. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14…
- [NTSB CEN26LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA154.md): Enstrom F-28F · Oelwein, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Mar 29, 2026 · N942MA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the hover taxi with a quartering tailwind.
- [NTSB CEN26LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA113.md): Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P-MENTOR · Des Moines, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 11, 2026 · N316VV · Substantial damage
  > The solo student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a runway excursion.
- [NTSB CEN23LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA326.md): Robinson Helicopter R44 II · Charles City, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 26, 2023 · N4174L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper preflight of the helicopter to ensure that it was within the loading and performance limitations that resulted in settling and impact with terrain during initial climb.
- [NTSB CEN23LA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA240.md): Taylorcraft BC-65 · Sibley, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 15, 2023 · N23679 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed on final approach resulting in the airplane inadvertently exceeding the critical angle of attack and entering an inadvertent aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB CEN23LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA091.md): Cessna 150G · Pocahantas, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Dec 20, 2022 · N2930J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s landing flare which resulted in a bounced landing and the nose landing gear collapsing. Contributing to the accident was the airplane's encounter with adverse weather conditions which led to structural icing that affected flight characteristics…
- [NTSB CEN19LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA230.md): Robinson R44 · Ida Grove, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 21, 2019 · N459TA · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power during an aerial application flight for undetermined reasons.
- [NTSB GAA16CA501](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA501.md): Piper PA28R · Ottumwa, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 21, 2016 · N3803T · Substantial damage
  > The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle-of-attack during a simulated engine failure and landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the…
- [NTSB CEN15LA322](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA322.md): Bell 47G 4A · Gilbert, IA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 24, 2015 · N1396X · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because the available fuel shifted within the tanks due to an abrupt nose-low maneuver to avoid an obstacle, which resulted in a hard forced landing.
- [NTSB CEN14CA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA264.md): Lauritsen Ralph M RV 4 · Rockwell City, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 21, 2014 · N50036 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN13LA570](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA570.md): Piper PA 28-181 · Algona, IA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 30, 2013 · N31688 · Substantial damage
  > Fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to ensure he had sufficient fuel on board to complete the planned flight. Contributing to the accident was the incomplete information provided by the airport's AWOS.
- [NTSB CEN13CA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA289.md): Cessna 172S · Ankeny, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 14, 2013 · N947SP · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN13CA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA238.md): Enstrom F-28C · Lanesboro, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 24, 2013 · N51767 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while making an off-airport landing with a gusty tailwind.
- [NTSB CEN11CA654](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA654.md): Balloon Works Firefly 8 · Mingo, IA · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 17, 2011 · N3181A · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon’s descent during the landing, which resulted in the balloon having a hard landing in a ditch and causing a passenger to be seriously injured.
- [NTSB CEN11CA567](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA567.md): Flight Design Ctls · Ankeny, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 10, 2011 · N227CT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN11CA497](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA497.md): Grumman Schweizer G-164A · North English, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 21, 2011 · N5439 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN10CA428](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA428.md): Bell 206B · New Hampton, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 23, 2010 · N40TA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires.
- [NTSB CEN10LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA312.md): Piper PA-34-220T · Ankeny, IA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 9, 2010 · N104NW · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the stabilator control cable due to wear. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance inspection of the stabilator control cable.
- [NTSB CEN09CA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA121.md): Cessna 150M · Greene, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 31, 2008 · N899CB · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the rough, snow-covered terrain.

## 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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'IA' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE 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?state=IA

---
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.