Probable cause
The student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident were the improper flare and excessive airspeed.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to practice landings at a tower controlled airport. He stated that he landed too fast and the airplane bounced on touchdown. He attempted to recover the landing, but the airplane began to porpoise. The pilot reported the airplane porpoised several times prior to the nose gear collapsing and the airplane coming to rest on the runway.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CHI08CA253 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 14, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172R
- N-number
- N21SZ
- Category
- Airplane
- 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.