# NTSB CEN21LA166: Cessna 207A, N9177M, Laredo, TX, March 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 24, 2021, 12:19 local (17:19 UTC) - Place: Laredo, TX - Coordinates: 27.544194, -99.461583 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5442&lon=-99.4616&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; San Antonio - NTSB case key (mKey): 102807 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102807/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102807 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA166 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to control the airplane during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 207A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073605), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while landing, the airplane encountered an “updraft” which “lifted” the airplane. The airplane subsequently came down and made a hard bounce. The pilot corrected, flared a second time, and landed the airplane. During the landing rollout, as he released back pressure, the propeller struck the runway. The pilot shut the airplane down, exited, and noticed the nose landing gear was gone. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the personal flight stated that the airplane encountered an “updraft” during a landing flare, which he compensated for, but the airplane bounced twice and experienced a hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction/failure that would have precluded normal airplane operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9177M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9177M-2025-12-20), registration cancelled 2025-12-20, S/N 20700677, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 207A - Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-f) (registry code 17237, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700677 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 1621.8 - Engines: Continental IO-520F 300 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Aircraft Guaranty Corporation Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, February 9, 2021 - Departed: MMAN, Monterrey, OF - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR/IFR - Airport: LRD, Laredo International Airport, runway 18R, 8,743 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 451 total, 210 as pilot in command, 136 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.69 inHg - Observed at: LRD ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20210324005729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210324005729A), Mar 24, 2021: Cessna 207A, Laredo, TX, Substantial damage. On March 24, 2021 12:19 CDT N9177M s/n 20700677, a Cessna 207A was substantially damaged after the pilot lost control during a hard landing at Laredo… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 13, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102807. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12291373&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20FORM%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo of aircraft damage (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 330 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12469475&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Log%202-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.