Probable cause
The flight instructor’s failure to adequately monitor the pilot flying, which resulted in a nose-wheel first hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The flight instructor reported that during a discovery flight, the customer in the right seat locked his arms forward during landing and the instructor was unable to overpower him. The airplane subsequently landed hard with the nose wheel first and bounced. The instructor conducted a go-around and landed safely. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the airframe.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN22LA281 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 19, 2022
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Fargo, North Dakota
- Nearest airport
- Hector Intl (FAR)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172S
- N-number
- N5256S
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2009
- 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.