Probable cause
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot was on a solo instructional flight in the airport traffic pattern. She approached the runway and described that the airplane touched down on both main landing gear and that the nosewheel touched down almost immediately thereafter. The airplane then bounced three times, which each bounce being harder than the last. After the last bounce, the pilot taxied off the runway uneventfully. The underside of the airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA25LA148 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 9, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Brooksville, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Brooksville-Tampa Bay Rgnl (BKV)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172
- N-number
- N740SP
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2000
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
Other records under this N-number
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.