Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot reported that, during his first solo flight and as the airplane approached to land, he flared too early. Instead of performing a go-around, the student pitched the airplane's nose down, which resulted in a hard landing on the nosewheel first. The airplane subsequently bounced, landed on the main wheels, and then stopped on the runway. The firewall and lower fuselage sustained substantial damage. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation and that the student did not report any.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA20CA078 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Dec 26, 2019
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Ormond Beach, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Ormond Beach Municipal Airport (OMN)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172
- N-number
- N882TC
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2005
- 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.