No fatalities

Night Landing Flare Mismanagement Leads to Multiple Impact Points (N8761U)

Long Beach, CA, US

On September 21, 1998, a Cessna 172F (registration N8761U) was involved in an aviation accident near Long Beach, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's misjudging the flare point and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin, which resulted in a stall/mush and hard landing. A contributing factor was the dark night conditions. 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 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

During a night landing, the pilot flared high, added then reduced power, causing the propeller, nose gear, left main gear, and left wing to strike the runway, followed by a bounce and right wing tip strike.

Incident Summary

The pilot entered the landing pattern under night conditions. The approach and descent were normal until the flare for touchdown. At that point, the pilot perceived that he had flared too high and added power to control the descent rate. Shortly after, he reduced power. As the power was reduced, the nose dropped, and the propeller, nose gear, left main landing gear, and left wing tip struck the pavement almost simultaneously.

Sequence of Events

Following the initial impact, the aircraft bounced. During the bounce, the right wing tip struck the ground before the aircraft finally came to rest on the runway.

Aircraft Damage

The source does not specify the extent of damage to the aircraft. However, the impacts involved the propeller, nose gear, left main landing gear, left wing tip, and right wing tip.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 21 Sept 1998 Cessna 172F accident near Long Beach, CA?

During a night landing, the pilot flared high, added then reduced power, causing the propeller, nose gear, left main gear, and left wing to strike the runway, followed by a bounce and right wing tip strike.

Were there any fatalities in the 21 Sept 1998 Cessna 172F accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 21 Sept 1998 involved a Cessna 172F, registration N8761U, at Long Beach, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's misjudging the flare point and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin, which resulted in a stall/mush and hard landing. A contributing factor was the dark night conditions.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X11109. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.