Casualties unknown

Nose Gear Collapse During Solo Landing Practice (N55161)

Waukegan, IL, US

On November 12, 1996, a Cessna 172P (registration N55161) was involved in an aviation accident near Waukegan, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain proper landing technique, which resulted in a hard touchdown and subsequent nose gear impact. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot practicing solo landings experienced a hard touchdown that caused the aircraft to bounce and subsequently strike the ground with its nose landing gear.

What happened

The flight was conducted for the purpose of practicing takeoffs and landings. During one specific approach, the airplane touched down with excessive force, resulting in a hard landing. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce back into the air. On the subsequent descent, the nose landing gear struck the ground surface, leading to structural damage.

The investigation

Post-accident examination confirmed that the primary mechanical failure was associated with the nose landing gear assembly following the impact sequence described above. No other pre-existing mechanical anomalies were identified as contributing factors to the initial hard touchdown.

Findings

The pilot reported that she had previously been involved in a landing accident and had received subsequent instruction to address the issue. At the time of this incident, she was conducting solo landings specifically to prepare for a re-examination required for her pilot certificate renewal. The sequence of events indicates a failure to maintain proper touchdown technique during the practice session.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain proper landing technique, which resulted in a hard touchdown and subsequent nose gear impact.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X07010. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.