Probable cause
The student pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot reported that the accident occurred during his initial solo flight. He stated that the takeoff and flight in the traffic pattern were without incident. However, during the first landing, the airplane bounced twice before settling onto the runway, and he elected to return to the ramp area. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the firewall, with additional damage to the nose landing gear and propeller. A left crosswind at 8 knots was reported about the time of the accident. The student pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions related to the airplane before the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13CA098 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 15, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Moline, Illinois
- Nearest airport
- Quad City International (MLI)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172N
- N-number
- N6231F
- 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.