Probable cause
The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
According to the student pilot, he was performing his second solo flight in the traffic pattern. During the flare on the first landing, the airplane porpoised on the runway, resulting in the nose wheel impacting the runway three times, oscillating harder each time. After the first landing, an air traffic controller contacted the flight school to inform them of the porpoised landing. The student pilot completed three more landings, taxied back to the ramp, and exited the airplane. The first assessment of the airplane revealed no obvious damage, and it was flown two more times before another examination of the airplane by the operator revealed substantial damage to the firewall. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11CA254 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 14, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Craig Municipal Airport (CRG)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Flight Design Gmbh CTLS
- N-number
- N178CT
- 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.