Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to arrest the airplane’s descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The solo student pilot reported that, while on approach for landing, the airplane encountered a crosswind gust near the ground. The pilot attempted to abort the landing: however, he could not arrest the descent, and the airplane touched down hard on the runway. The airplane briefly became airborne and then hit the runway hard again, which resulted in the left rear wheel separating from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR20CA064 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jan 13, 2020
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Hawthorne, California
- Nearest airport
- Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne (HHR)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Airborne XT912
- N-number
- N805M
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2008
- 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.