Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot performed a straight-in approach to the north, in calm winds, to take advantage of the uphill slope of the grass runway. He applied 30 degrees of flaps incrementally during the approach. During the landing flare, the airplane touched down, "ballooned up," and the pilot "kept the flare going" before the airplane "slammed" onto the runway, separating the nose gear and bending the empennage downward about 45 degrees. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09CA265 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 25, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Como, Mississippi
- Nearest airport
- Private Airstrip (NONE)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172E
- N-number
- N5683T
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
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.