Probable cause
The student pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
During the second landing of the student pilot’s first solo flight, the airplane landed flat and bounced three to four times. The student pilot taxied off the runway and determined that the airplane appeared to be operating properly. The student pilot flew one more takeoff and landing which were uneventful. The postflight inspection of the airplane revealed that one propeller blade tip was bent aft and the firewall was buckled. The student pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the airplane before the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13CA289 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 14, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Ankeny, Iowa
- Nearest airport
- Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172S
- N-number
- N947SP
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
Other records under this N-number
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.