Probable cause
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, porpoised landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot reported that during landing, the airplane encountered a light wind gust, ballooned, touched down hard, and porpoised several times. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the accident sequence. 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 ERA26LA174 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 13, 2026
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- The Rock, Georgia
- Nearest airport
- Thomaston-Upson County (OPN)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172S
- N-number
- N63405
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2008
- 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.