NTSB CAROL · Event
Event ERA12CA420
Registry · N80985
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
CESSNA 172M
Year of manufacture
1976 · 36 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19760301
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AB06DA
Registrant of record
MULLINS JAMES C
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot’s inadequate flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, during the landing flare the airplane bounced on the runway several times. The last time the airplane bounced, the nose wheel landing gear impacted the runway, the front tire ruptured, and the propeller struck the ground resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot, during the landing flare, the airplane bounced on the runway several times. The last time that the airplane bounced, the nosewheel landing gear impacted the runway, the front tire ruptured, and the propeller struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
- C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2012_ERA12CA420.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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