Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing touchdown, resulting in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that during the landing touchdown at night, she underestimated how high she was. She reported that the airplane landed on the main landing gear, "bounced back up," then landed on the nose landing gear, and that "it was a hard landing, bouncing a couple of times." A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall.
The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA15CA208 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 23, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- North Vernon, Indiana
- Nearest airport
- North Vernon (OVO)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Cessna 172R
- N-number
- N133VU
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2003
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
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.