Cessna 172 N6543E accident near Medina, Ohio

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent noseover.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot and the flight instructor had completed several practice takeoffs and landings, after which the flight instructor disembarked and sent the student pilot for a solo flight in the airport traffic pattern. As the student pilot approached the runway for landing, the flight instructor stated that the airplane looked like it was “high and fast.” The airplane subsequently touched down near the midpoint of the runway and overran the departure end. The airplane nosed over during the runway excursion and sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The flight instructor 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 ERA24LA339 for the full record.