Cessna 172 N452ER accident near Daytona Beach, Florida

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.

NTSB analysis

The director of aviation safety at the flight school reported that the airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage after a hard landing. Four days before finding the damage, the airplane had been used by the accident pilot for a flight toward his commercial training. After completing the training flight, no discrepancies were declared.

Data from the airplane's flight data management unit showed that the airplane landed flat on the runway, which resulted in subsequent bounces.

The director of aviation safety of the flight school reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 3 knots. The pilot landed on runway 25R.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA080 for the full record.