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GAA17CA206

2017-03-23 · Timberlake, North Carolina, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport TDF

Current FAA registration · N3947R

Make / Model
CESSNA 172H
Year of manufacture
1966 · 51 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER (145 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19661102
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A49502

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot’s failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare with a tailwind, which resulted in a propeller strike.

Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing flare he "felt a big push from behind", which resulted in a propeller strike and substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from 190° at 3 knots. The airplane landed on runway 6. The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing flare, he "felt a big push from behind," which resulted in a propeller strike and substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from 190° at 3 knots. The airplane landed on runway 6. 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-Pitch control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA206.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

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Related research

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