Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper flare.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot made several landings with his flight instructor on board. The instructor then exited the airplane and signed the student pilot off for his first solo flight. Two landings were uneventful, but on the third landing, the airplane ballooned during the flare. The airplane then pitched over and landed hard on the nose. A postaccident examination determined that the firewall had buckled.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR11CA478 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 23, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Fresno, California
- Nearest airport
- Fresno Chandler Executive Airp (FCH)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Fpna Llc A-22 VALOR
- N-number
- N730FP
- 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.