No fatalities

Student Pilot's Touch-and-Go Landing Ends in Runway Excursion (N4642J)

Durango, CO, US

On June 30, 2000, a Cessna 172N (registration N4642J) was involved in an aviation accident near Durango, CO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot prematurely flaring the airplane for landing, resulting in a hard landing, followed by an inadvertent pilot-induced porpoise and loss of directional control. A factor was the fence. 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

A student pilot performing a touch-and-go landing on Runway 1 experienced a hard landing, bounce, and left torque, resulting in a nose-gear landing and skid off the runway into a barbed wire fence.

Incident Overview

During a solo training flight, a student pilot planned to execute a touch-and-go landing on runway 1. The initial takeoff and approach were uneventful. The student reported deploying 20 degrees of flaps and reducing speed to approximately 65 knots.

Event Sequence

As the airplane approached the runway threshold, the student closed the throttle and raised the nose. Subsequently, the aircraft began to oscillate vertically, with the student noting that it "started to go up and down too rapidly." The main landing gear then contacted the runway with significant force, followed by a bounce. The airplane began to torque to the left, and after the bounce, it settled onto its nose gear. The aircraft skidded leftward off the runway surface, eventually coming to rest against a barbed wire fence.

Aircraft Damage

The aircraft sustained damage as a result of the collision with the fence, but specific items were not enumerated in the source.

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 30 Jun 2000 Cessna 172N accident near Durango, CO?

A student pilot performing a touch-and-go landing on Runway 1 experienced a hard landing, bounce, and left torque, resulting in a nose-gear landing and skid off the runway into a barbed wire fence.

Were there any fatalities in the 30 Jun 2000 Cessna 172N accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 30 Jun 2000 involved a Cessna 172N, registration N4642J, at Durango, CO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot prematurely flaring the airplane for landing, resulting in a hard landing, followed by an inadvertent pilot-induced porpoise and loss of directional control. A factor was the fence.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X21217. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.