Cessna 172 N6208C accident near Baltimore, Maryland

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate landing flare at night, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was returning to his home airport at night following a personal cross-country flight. He reported that before departure, he completed the preflight and before takeoff checks with no anomalies noted. The takeoff, enroute, and approach phases of the flight were uneventful. He stated that after completing a practice instrument approach, and during the landing flare, the elevator control was restricted and not fully effective. The airplane subsequently touched down flat, and during taxi to parking, the pilot noted a “wobbly” nosewheel. After shutdown, he observed damage to the nosewheel, restricted elevator control movement, and abnormal trim wheel operation.

Examination of the airplane by the operator and an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to firewall and lower fuselage. The inspector noted that the elevator control pivot point near the lower fuselage impact damage was bent, which restricted the elevator control yoke movement. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Due to the pilot’s reported preflight flight control checks, which would have confirmed free and correct movement, and the postaccident examination that revealed no mechanical anomalies, it is likely that the elevator control binding resulted from damage sustained during the hard landing.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA25LA306 for the full record.