NTSB GAA17CA065 — 2016-11-08 · Sarasota, Florida, United States

Current FAA registration · N2272C

Make / Model: CESSNA 172S
Year of manufacture: 2005 · 11 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 20051019
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A1FDA3

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N2272C Cessna 172 None

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that during his 3rd solo flight he "had a hard landing". He further reported that he aborted the landing, landed again, and taxied to the ramp without further incident. After shutting the airplane down, he noticed that the propeller and nose landing gear were damaged. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot reported that, during his third solo flight, he "had a hard landing." He added that he aborted the landing, landed again, and taxied to the ramp without further incident. After shutting the airplane down, he noticed that the propeller and nose landing gear were damaged. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, 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-Student/instructed pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA17CA065.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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