NTSB WPR12CA425 — 2012-09-15 · Eloy, Arizona, United States

Current FAA registration · N8293E

Make / Model: CESSNA 172N
Year of manufacture: 1979 · 33 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19791002
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AB5510

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N8293E Cessna 172N None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's improper flare, and his inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that difficulty activating the pilot controlled lighting at the airport resulted in entering the base leg of the traffic pattern higher and closer to the runway than normal. He was high and fast on final, and landed at the midfield point. He landed the airplane hard on the nose wheel and porpoised at least twice while attempting to complete the landing. Post flight inspection revealed damage to the airplane's firewall. The pilot stated that he had difficulty activating the pilot-controlled lighting at the airport, which resulted in the airplane entering the base leg of the traffic pattern higher and closer to the runway than normal. The airplane was high and fast on final and landed at the midfield point. The pilot landed the airplane hard on the nose wheel and porpoised at least twice while attempting to complete the landing. Postaccident examination revealed damage to the airplane's firewall. 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-Pitch control-Not attained/maintained - C
C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-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_2012_WPR12CA425.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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