Probable cause
The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
Following six takeoffs and landings, the flight instructor exited the airplane to allow the student pilot to attempt her first solo flight. During the first solo landing, the airplane landed hard, experienced a bounced landing, and upon recovery the airplane impacted nose-low, deflating the nosewheel, damaging a propeller tip, and resulting in structural damage to the airplane's firewall. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the student pilot was able to exit unassisted. There were no reported anomalies with the airplane's flight controls.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09CA187 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 1, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Carlisle, Arkansas
- Nearest airport
- Carlisle Municipal Airport (4M3)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172N
- N-number
- N739NP
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.