Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions and maintain aircraft control during the landing.
NTSB analysis
The airplane experienced a hard landing when it encountered a gust of wind just prior to the landing flare during a student solo flight. The student pilot reported that during the touchdown, the left main landing gear and nose landing gear impacted the runway. Unknown that the airplane was damaged, the student pilot executed a touch-and-go and flew the airplane back to his home airport. Examination of the airplane revealed the firewall was buckled.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09CA509 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 6, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Bluffton, Ohio
- Nearest airport
- Bluffton Airport (5G7)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172S
- N-number
- N6186T
- 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.