Probable cause
The solo student pilot’s improper descent path which resulted in a hard landing on the nose wheel and subsequent bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The solo student pilot reported he was anxious on the flight controls in preparation for night landing. During the approach, he felt the airplane was higher above the runway than his actual altitude, and he descended the airplane in a nose low attitude which caused a hard landing on the nose wheel. The student pilot then pulled back on the control yoke, and subsequently the airplane porpoised and settled on to the runway surface. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The student pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN23LA355 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 7, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Waco, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Waco Rgnl (ACT)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Cessna 172S
- N-number
- N6319G
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2008
- 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.