Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172R near Napa, CA — 2011-09-28

Final reportWPR11CA472
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Date
2011-09-28
Location
Napa, CA, USA
Airport
APC
Aircraft
CESSNA 172R
Registration
N21284
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot was on a solo training flight. The student flew in the local practice area and then returned to the departure airport for touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. The student completed one landing uneventfully. On the second landing, as the student flared, the airplane ballooned to approximately 20 feet above ground level. The airplane dropped hard and the nose and right wing impacted the runway, followed by the left wing. A postaccident examination revealed that the wing spar sustained substantial damage. The student reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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