LAX96LA246

Factual narrative

On June 12, 1996, about 1130 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172M, N12341, was substantially damaged during landing at Sedona, Arizona. Neither the pilot nor the passenger were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Eagle, Colorado, at 0800 on the day of the accident. The pilot stated he had a normal approach and touchdown on the main landing gear. While lowering the nose gear the aircraft became airborne, then settled back onto the runway not noticeably hard. He taxied to parking and secured the aircraft. He noticed an inner tube sticking through the nose tire side wall. He taxied the aircraft to a fixed-base operator to have the tire repaired, and during that process he was informed of the damage to the fire wall and nose landing gear. The pilot reported that he was landing at the uncontrolled airport with a right quartering tail wind with occasional gusts of 5 to 10 knots. The pilot reported that after a normal cross-country flight, he landed on runway 3 with winds that were variable at 5 gusting 10 knots. Reportedly, the airplane touched down on the main landing gear at normal speed with a quartering tail wind. While lowering the nose, the aircraft lifted off the runway again and landed hard. The pilot taxied to parking where he observed a bulging inner tube from the nose tire side wall. He then taxied the airplane to a fixed-base operator, who advised him of additional damage to the fire wall and nose gear. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12