# NTSB ERA26LA016: Cessna 172, N64203, Bluffton, OH, October 3, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 3, 2025, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Bluffton, OH · 5G7 Runway 23 - Coordinates: 40.885444, -83.868639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8854&lon=-83.8686&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 December 11, 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): 201863 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201863/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201863 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA016 ## 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. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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 172M, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 172M, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was practicing solo takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. During the landing flare of her second traffic pattern circuit, the pilot attempted a landing flare, but instead of holding the airplane’s nosewheel above the runway, she allowed the nose wheel to contact the runway. The pilot then pulled back on the yoke in order to soften the landing, but the airplane climbed and again contacted the runway with the nosewheel first two more times before the airplane came to a stop on the runway. The airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64203](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64203), registered now, S/N 17265084 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265084 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 5196.5 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bluffton Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 2025 - Departed: 5G7, Bluffton, OH - Airport: 5G7, Bluffton, runway 23, 4,126 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 17; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.24 inHg - Observed at: FDY, 12 nm away - METAR: KFDY 031653Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 28/11 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP233 T02780106= ## 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 20251003016569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251003016569A), Oct 3, 2025: Cessna 172M, Bluffton, OH, Substantial damage. Student pilot 2nd solo. Aircraft bounced during landing rwy 23 on second touchdown damaged nose wheel resulting in firewall damage. Substancial damage. No… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201863. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19509147&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form_N64203_Master_Redacted_Rev1-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record - pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19509125&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20FAA%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 763 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19477187&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA016%20Investigative%20Photos-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.