Probable cause
The pilot’s improper flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that when attempting to land she entered ground effect and flared too early. The airplane began to float, then touched down hard and bounced. The pilot subsequently overcorrected and struck the tail before the airplane bounced again landing hard on the nose landing gear. After the second bounce the pilot aborted the landing and returned for a subsequent uneventful landing. Examination of the airplane following the accident revealed that the airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA24LA319 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 16, 2024
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Elizabeth City, North Carolina
- Nearest airport
- Elizabeth City Cg Air Station/ (ECG)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172
- N-number
- N92970
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2011
- 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.