# NTSB WPR25LA105: Textron 172S, N726ER, Cottonwood, AZ, February 20, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 20, 2025, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Cottonwood, AZ · Runway - Coordinates: 34.730056, -112.03513 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7301&lon=-112.0351&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199748 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199748/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199748 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA105 ## Probable cause The pilot undergoing instructions’ loss of aircraft control during landing, and the flight instructor’s failure to promptly intervene. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was practicing landing maneuvers with their flight instructor. The early part of the flight was uneventful, and they decided to work on short-field landings, all of which resulted in go-arounds. They subsequently started to practice power-off 180° landings, and on the third landing attempt, the airplane was high on the approach. The student performed a forward slip maneuver, however the airplane was traveling too fast on touchdown, and it bounced. The nose then dropped, and the nosewheel struck the runway. The flight instructor took the flight controls just as the nosewheel struck the runway again and added power to initiate a go-around. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the sequence, however the airplane performance appeared unaffected and the crew continued training unaware of the damage. It was not until after landing, when the lesson was complete, that they noticed damage to the propeller tip and forward fuselage structure. The pilot and flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that could have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N726ER](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N726ER), registered now, S/N 172S13029, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172S - 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: 172S13029 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 1839.9 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Inc - Registered owner: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 11, 2025, 33.2 hours before - Departed: PRC, Prescott, AZ - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: P52, Cottonwood, runway 14/32, 4,250 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Data recorder, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 28, 2023; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 665 total, 451 in this make and model, 595 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 22, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 278 total, 278 in this make and model, 79 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 15 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: P52 ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199748. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19132179&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=r_6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 830 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19181201&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.