Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control following a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot stated that during the fifth landing of the solo instructional flight, the airplane landed hard left of the runway centerline, bounced, touched down a second time, and departed the left side of the runway. During the roll-out in the grass, the nose wheel dug into the ground, the airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of photographs revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the accident airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11CA385 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 6, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Nearest airport
- Martin State Airport (MTN)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172P
- N-number
- N65659
- 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.