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GAA18CA425

2018-07-13 · Batavia, Ohio, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport I69

Current FAA registration · N12064

Make / Model
CESSNA 172S
Year of manufacture
2005 · 13 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-360-L2A (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20050614
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A056F9

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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

Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing flare, he pulled back on the controls too sharply, the airplane ballooned, and landed hard. Unbeknownst to him, the propeller struck the runway and he went around the traffic pattern again. He landed and taxied the airplane back to the ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and lower fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot did not submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing flare, he pulled back on the controls too sharply and that the airplane then ballooned and landed hard. Unbeknownst to him, the propeller struck the runway, and he then went around the traffic pattern again. He landed and taxied the airplane back to the ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and lower fuselage. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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 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_2018_GAA18CA425.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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