# NTSB ERA25LA323: Cessna 172, N2460A, Spring Hill, FL, August 22, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 22, 2025, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Spring Hill, FL - Coordinates: 28.469326, -82.455167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4693&lon=-82.4552&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 20, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200894 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA323 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200894/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200894 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA323 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage. ## 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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072401), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was on his second solo flight in the airport traffic pattern practicing takeoffs and landings. During his second touch-and-go attempt, as he was landing, the airplane bounced several times, resulting in substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2460A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2460A), registered now, S/N 17280932, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (R) - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280932 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 12279 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: American Aviation Inc - Registered owner: American Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 17, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: BKV, Brooksville-Tampa Bay Rgnl, runway 27, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 28.6 total, 28.6 in this make and model, 1.1 as pilot in command, 5.8 in the last 90 days, 1.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: BKV - METAR: KBKV 222353Z 24003KT 10SM FEW090 28/24 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP140 T02830239 10322 20283 53005 ## 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 20250822012289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250822012289A), Aug 22, 2025: Cessna 172R, Brooksville, FL, Substantial damage. A student pilot was flying solo on approach to land on runway 27, for his 2nd touch and go. Upon making contact with the runway, the aircraft bounced upon… ## Other investigations on N2460A (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 ERA17CA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA216), Jun 28, 2017: Cessna 172 (N2460A), Emporia, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed for landing and his improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200894. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19275018&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilots%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot and instructor statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 446 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19275897&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Instructors%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - student pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19275471&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Student%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 333 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19275438&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Airplane%20Damage%20N2460A-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.