Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that he had not flown an airplane during the previous 6 months and that he intended to acquire currency by performing a series of stop-and-go landings. The pilot took off and performed the first landing without mishap. According to the pilot, during the second approach he flared out too high. Thereafter, the airplane impacted the runway in a nose-low attitude and bounced. The second contact occurred while in a nose-low attitude. After the hard landing, the pilot taxied off the runway and parked his airplane. A subsequent structural examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear assembly was broken and the lower portion of the firewall was buckled.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA185 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 7, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Richland, Washington
- Nearest airport
- Richland (RLD)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172L
- N-number
- N7582G
- Category
- Airplane
- 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.