Probable cause
The pilot's improper flare, and his inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated that he had difficulty activating the pilot-controlled lighting at the airport, which resulted in the airplane entering the base leg of the traffic pattern higher and closer to the runway than normal. The airplane was high and fast on final and landed at the midfield point. The pilot landed the airplane hard on the nose wheel and porpoised at least twice while attempting to complete the landing. Postaccident examination revealed damage to the airplane's firewall.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR12CA425 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 16, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Eloy, Arizona
- Nearest airport
- Eloy Municipal Airport (E60)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night, dark
Cessna 172N
- N-number
- N8293E
- 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.