Probable cause
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to conduct solo night training to include takeoff and landing practice. The flight school reported that during the landing, the airplane bounced 3 to 4 times on the runway before coming to a stop. As a result of the hard landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The flight school chief pilot stated that a greater emphasis should have been placed on training for night illusions and that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN25LA350 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 28, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Ardmore, Oklahoma
- Nearest airport
- Ardmore Muni (ADM)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night, dark
Cessna 172R
- N-number
- N5181A
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2002
- 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.