Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain airplane attitude control during the landing, resulting in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot reported that upon the conclusion of his cross-country solo flight, the airplane landed hard and the nose wheel tire lost pressure. A post-accident inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall.
The student pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA15CA119 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 28, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
- Nearest airport
- Beaver County (BVI)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172R
- N-number
- N984WU
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1998
- 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.