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Student Pilot's Airspeed Decay Leads to Hard Landing and Nose Gear Collapse During Instructional Flight (N4347R)

Farmington, MO, US

On August 25, 1990, a Cessna 172 (registration N4347R) was involved in an aviation accident near Farmington, MO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: REMEDIAL ACTION WAS NOT ATTAINED BY THE CFI. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND PORPOISE ENCOUNTERED BY THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

During a dual instructional flight, a student pilot allowed airspeed to decay, resulting in a hard landing and rebound. The flight instructor could not stabilize the aircraft before it hit nose down, collapsing the nose gear.

Accident Description

During a dual instructional flight focused on landing practice, the student pilot allowed the airspeed to decay. This led to a hard landing, followed by a rebound into the air. The student attempted to correct the pitch attitude but was out of phase with the resulting oscillations.

The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that he was unable to stabilize the aircraft before it struck the runway nose-down, causing the nose gear to collapse. The aircraft then skidded to a stop on its nose.

Sequence of Events

The accident occurred while the student was practicing landings under the supervision of a CFI. The student's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach resulted in a hard touchdown. The subsequent bounce compounded the situation, as the student's control inputs did not align with the aircraft's motion.

Despite the CFI's intervention, the aircraft's nose struck the runway with sufficient force to collapse the nose gear. The aircraft continued to slide forward on its nose until coming to rest.

Related events

Same aircraft family

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 25 Aug 1990 Cessna 172 accident near Farmington, MO?

During a dual instructional flight, a student pilot allowed airspeed to decay, resulting in a hard landing and rebound. The flight instructor could not stabilize the aircraft before it hit nose down, collapsing the nose gear.

Were there any fatalities in the 25 Aug 1990 Cessna 172 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 25 Aug 1990 involved a Cessna 172, registration N4347R, at Farmington, MO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

REMEDIAL ACTION WAS NOT ATTAINED BY THE CFI. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND PORPOISE ENCOUNTERED BY THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X23961. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.