Skip to content

WPR11CA478

2011-09-23 · Fresno, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport FCH

Current FAA registration · N730FP

Make / Model
FPNA LLC A-22 VALOR
Year of manufacture
2010 · 1 years old at event
Engine
ROTAX 912ULS SERIES (100 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20100405
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A9CB96

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot’s improper flare.

Factual narrative

The student pilot made several landings with his flight instructor on board. The instructor then exited the airplane, and signed the student pilot off for the first solo flight. Two landings were uneventful, but on the third landing, the airplane ballooned during the flare. The airplane then pitched over, and landed hard on the nose. Post accident examination determined that the firewall had buckled. The student pilot made several landings with his flight instructor on board. The instructor then exited the airplane and signed the student pilot off for his first solo flight. Two landings were uneventful, but on the third landing, the airplane ballooned during the flare. The airplane then pitched over and landed hard on the nose. A postaccident examination determined that the firewall had buckled. 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-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Student pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_WPR11CA478.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.