NTSB WPR14CA125 — 2014-02-04 · Eastsound, Washington, United States

Current FAA registration · N78330

Make / Model: CESSNA 172K
Year of manufacture: 1968 · 46 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19681007
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AA9E85

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N78330 Cessna 172K None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's inadequate flare and failure to maintain aircraft control during landing in gusty wind conditions.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during landing, the airplane encountered a wind gust, landed hard and bounced several times. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a stop, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that during landing, the airplane encountered a wind gust, landed hard and bounced several times. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a stop, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures 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-Pilot - C
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2014_WPR14CA125.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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