Casualties unknown

1997-11-01: Cessna 172P (N96575) — Great Western Aviation — Tooele, UT

Tooele, UT, US

On November 1, 1997, a Cessna 172P (registration N96575) operated by Great Western Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Tooele, UT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to flare sufficiently, resulting in a hard touchdown on all three wheels. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot practicing stop-and-go landings on runway 34 experienced a hard touchdown due to insufficient flare, resulting in a loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and collision with a runway marker sign and fence.

Incident Summary

A student pilot was conducting stop-and-go landings on runway 34. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down on all three wheels simultaneously because he did not flare sufficiently. Following the touchdown, the left main wheel and nose wheel lifted off the runway surface. Instead of initiating a go-around, the pilot pushed the nose down.

Sequence of Events

The airplane began to veer to the left, and the pilot applied right rudder to correct. When the left main wheel re-contacted the runway, the airplane veered further left. The pilot then applied additional right rudder, retracted the flaps, and added power to abort the landing. As the airplane departed the left side of the runway, the pilot closed the throttle and applied brakes. Subsequently, the left wing struck a 3,000-foot marker sign, and the airplane collided with a fence.

Additional Details

The source did not specify the aircraft type, registration, operator, location, time of day, weather conditions, ATC involvement, or whether any injuries occurred. The only causal factor mentioned in the pilot's statement was the insufficient flare.

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to flare sufficiently, resulting in a hard touchdown on all three wheels.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X09172. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.