Probable cause
The student pilot's improper landing flare.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that on landing he touched down on the main landing gear but with the nose low. The airplane ballooned slightly, and the pilot applied power to ease the descent. The main landing gear touched down a second time and the pilot held "as much back pressure" as he could on the yoke. When the nose gear touched the ground the pilot heard a "grinding" noise and the airplane "began to buck," then veered to the left but stayed on the runway. The propeller then struck the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. When the pilot climbed out of the airplane, he observed that the nose gear tire was flat and the oleo strut was empty of fluid. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane before the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR10CA323 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 1, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Twin Falls, Idaho
- Nearest airport
- Magic Valley (KTWF)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172M
- N-number
- N64427
- Category
- Airplane
- 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.