Probable cause
The student pilots improper short field landing procedure and excessive rate of descent. A contributing factor was the student pilots improper recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot stated on the pilot operator report that she was 1,000 feet above the runway and three miles out on a straight in approach to a 5,000 foot long runway when she decided to make a short field landing. The pilot "heard a pop sound" when the nose wheel touched on the first impact and the airplane bounced two more times before landing. The hard landing caused structural damage to the wing spar and to the nose gear and firewall. The student pilot was unable to taxi because of the blown nose tire.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DFW08CA151 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 18, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas
- Nearest airport
- San Antonio Intl (SAT)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna CE-172M
- N-number
- N1281U
- 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.