Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that during the landing touchdown, the airplane bounced hard, pitched up, and became airborne again. He further reported that he pushed the flight controls forward to lower the pitch attitude, and the airplane touched down again "abruptly" on the main landing gear, which was "almost immediately followed by the nose gear." During the landing roll, the airplane rolled to the left and the pilot "realized the nose gear had collapsed," because he could not steer the airplane. The airplane stopped off to the left edge of the runway.
The firewall sustained substantial damage.
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA16CA511 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 18, 2016
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Auburn, California
- Nearest airport
- Auburn Muni (AUN)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172
- N-number
- N7560D
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1979
- 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.