Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard nosewheel landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot planned to practice a takeoff and landing before departing on a short solo flight. The student pilot reported that the approach was normal, but during the landing, the airplane’s nosewheel touched the runway first. The airplane bounced a couple times before the student pilot brought the airplane to a stop. Postflight examination of the airplane revealed that the nosewheel landing gear was compressed, the propeller bent, and the firewall had sustained substantial damage.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13CA112 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Dec 21, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Eveleth, Minnesota
- Nearest airport
- Eveleth-Virginia Muncipal (KEVM)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172M
- N-number
- N9660H
- 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.