NTSB GAA16CA158 — 2016-03-23 · Frederick, Maryland, United States

Current FAA registration · N65329

Make / Model: CESSNA 172S
Year of manufacture: 2004 · 12 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 20041014
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A89A9F

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N65329 Cessna 172 None

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot's improper pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard bounced landing.

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that during his second solo flight he encountered a gust of wind during the landing flare and the airplane ballooned and then bounced twice on the nose wheel. After the second bounce, the student pilot applied full power and aborted the landing. The subsequent landing was uneventful and he taxied to the ramp. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot reported that during his second solo flight he encountered a gust of wind during the landing flare and the airplane ballooned and then bounced twice on the nose wheel. After the second bounce, the student pilot applied full power and aborted the landing. The subsequent landing was uneventful and he taxied to the ramp. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Pitch control-Not attained/maintained - C
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Ability to respond/compensate

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA16CA158.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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