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GAA17CA389

2017-07-03 · Shreveport, Louisiana, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport DTN

Current FAA registration · N2173Z

Make / Model
CESSNA 172R
Year of manufacture
2004 · 13 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-360-L2A (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20040428
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A1D65C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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

Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, during the first approach to land, the airspeed was about 10 kts. fast. He added that, during the flare he attempted to correct the airspeed by "pitching back," but the airplane bounced hard and then porpoised on the runway. He further added that, he initiated a go-around and subsequently completed a normal landing after two additional go-arounds. The right elevator, fuselage, and firewall sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The solo student pilot reported that, during the first approach to land, the airspeed was about 10 knots fast. He added that, during the flare, he attempted to correct the airspeed by "pitching back," but the airplane bounced hard and then porpoised on the runway. He further added that he initiated a go-around and subsequently completed a normal landing after two additional go-arounds. The right elevator, fuselage, and firewall sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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-Student/instructed pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA389.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (go-around). All research papers