Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and the nose landing gear collapse.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot reported, that during the landing flare, the airplane floated down the runway. He attempted to settle the airplane softly onto the runway, but the airplane bounced twice and came to rest in the dirt on the side of the runway. A post-accident examination revealed that the nose landing gear folded forward, which resulted in substantial damage to the tunnel structure. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN23LA421 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 22, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Midland, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Midland Airpark (MDD)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172S
- N-number
- N391SP
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1999
- 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.