LAX04CA059

Factual narrative

On December 5, 2003, about 0945 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N75816, experienced a hard landing at Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport (INW), Winslow, Arizona. Bulwal Partnership was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed. The student solo cross-country instructional flight originated from Cottonwood (P52), Arizona, at 0900. The pilot reported in a written statement that during landing, he touched down on the main landing gear and positioned the yoke into the full aft position. The airplane porpoised, and then landed hard. The damage included a broken nose strut, propeller strike, and a bent firewall. The pilot noted that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He felt that the accident could have been prevented if he had applied power after the porpoising began. The airplane landed hard and porpoised during the student pilot's solo cross-country flight, which damaged the firewall. The pilot reported that he touched down on the main landing gear and positioned the yoke into the full aft position. The airplane porpoised, and then landed hard. The pilot noted that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The pilot felt that the accident could have been prevented if he had applied power after the porpoising began. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12