Probable cause
The student pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The accident occurred during the student pilot's third landing on his first solo flight. He reported that his first two landings were uneventful, but the airplane landed hard on the third landing for unknown reasons. An after-flight inspection revealed that one of the propeller blade tips was curled from contact with the runway and that the engine firewall was substantially deformed.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09CA404 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 2, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Grand Forks, North Dakota
- Nearest airport
- Grand Forks International (KGFK)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172S
- N-number
- N538ND
- 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.