Probable cause
The student pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose gear collapse.
NTSB analysis
During an initial solo flight, the student pilot was conducting a series of three takeoff and landings. During the second landing, the airplane landed hard, bounced, and landed on the nose wheel landing gear, which resulted in the nose gear collapsing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose wheel landing gear was compressed upward and aft into the firewall and fuselage structure. The student pilot reported that at the time of the accident, no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures existed that would of precluded normal operation of the airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR15CA068 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 15, 2014
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Santa Rosa, California
- Nearest airport
- Sonoma County (STS)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna Aircraft Co E162
- N-number
- N5216N
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2011
- 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.