Probable cause
The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot said that she was practicing short-field landings. On her third landing, she flared too early and landed hard. The airplane bounced and porpoised, which bent and wrinkled the lower half of the firewall.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR12CA345 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 25, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Ashland, Oregon
- Nearest airport
- Ashland Municipal Arpt (S03)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172N
- N-number
- N738AJ
- 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.