# NTSB ERA26LA103: Cessna 172, N407MD, Atlanta, GA, January 28, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 28, 2026, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Coordinates: 33.308677, -84.76678 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3087&lon=-84.7668&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 May 21, 2026
- 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): 202370
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202370/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202370
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA103

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard 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: [Textron 172S, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072449), [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: [Textron 172S, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072449), [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: [Textron 172S, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern after performing maneuvers in the local area. After two successful stop-and-go landings, the pilot approached the runway for a third landing, during which the airplane touched down hard, so the pilot aborted the landing. During the final landing approach, the airplane touched down hard again and bounced, after which the pilot lost control of the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rudder during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N407MD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N407MD), registered now, S/N 172S12764, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S)
- Registry model: [Textron 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/textron-172s) (registry code 2072449) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S12764
- Year built: 2021
- Airframe hours: 3989
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Wings Over Texas, doing business as US Aviation Academy
- Registered owner: 9k Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 27, 2025, 83 hours before
- Airport: CCO, Newnan Coweta County, runway 33, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Turbulence: Light
- Observed at: KCCO
- METAR: METAR KCCO 281835Z AUTO 31008KT 290V350 10SM CLR 07/M09 A3027 RMK AO2 T00731094=

## 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 20260128003059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260128003059A), Jan 28, 2026: Textron Aviation Inc 172S, Newnan, GA, Substantial damage. On January 27, 2026, at approximately 1330 local time, student pilot conducting pilot training at Newnan Coweta County Airport (cco). Student pilot completed…

## Other investigations on N407MD (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 ERA23LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA074), Nov 22, 2022: Textron 172 (N407MD), Newnan, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action during a simulated engine failure and low approach, which resulted in a collision with a runway light.

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202370. 18.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20280824&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20MPTPDF_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20281404&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20Convo%20w%20Gabriella%20Meccia%202%2019%202026%20v01_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Fuselage stations (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20284685&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuselage%20Stations-Rel.pdf
- Excerpts from illustrated parts catalog (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20285456&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20Fm%20IPC-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 408 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20280223&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 6, PDF, 7 pages, 6 photos, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20284736&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Investigative%20Photographs%20v01-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 8.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20281818&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_Redacted-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.

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