Probable cause
The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
While conducting practice landings and takeoffs, the student pilot landed hard, which resulted in a cut nose wheel, a damaged nose strut, and wrinkling of the firewall. The student pilot did not report the damage to officials from the flying club that operated the airplane. The damage was discovered during a maintenance inspection. The student pilot subsequently left the flying club and did not respond to the club's emails or telephone messages. Two other student pilots and their flight instructor confirmed that during the three previous flights, they noted no damage to the airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09LA549 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 20, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Pensacola, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Pensacola Regional Airport (PNS)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172P
- N-number
- N64344
- 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.