# NTSB CEN26LA212: Cessna 172S, N964SP, Georgetown, TX, May 24, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 24, 2026, 11:25 local (16:25 UTC) - Place: Georgetown, TX - Coordinates: 30.678806, -97.679389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6788&lon=-97.6794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203096 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203096/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203096 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA212 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The purpose of the flight was for the solo student pilot to conduct takeoff and landing practice. The student pilot reported that during the soft-field landing, the airplane bounced and began to porpoise. As a result of the hard landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall and lower fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N964SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N964SP), registered now, S/N 172S8176, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0-360-B1E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0-360-b1e) (registry code 41559, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8176 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 7855.7 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dirty Side Down Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Dirty Side Down Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 16, 2026 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: GTU, Georgetown Exec, runway 18/36, 5,004 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 65 total, 65 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KGTU - METAR: METAR KGTU 241655Z VRB06KT 10SM CLR 27/19 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP163 T02720194= ## 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 20260524005039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260524005039A), May 24, 2026: Cessna 172S, Georgetown, TX, Substantial damage. Incident occurred during student solo pattern work during touch and go on runway 36. Winds were calm (010@6KTS). The bent propellers are a result of a porpoise… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203096. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20804070&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20FORM%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 199 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20803851&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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.