Casualties unknown

Pilot Reports Hard Landing After Sunlight Blinding During Flare (N3512T)

Phoenix, AZ, US

On April 5, 2002, a Cessna 172S (registration N3512T) was involved in an aviation accident near Phoenix, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot flaring the airplane too high above the runway causing a stall and resulting in the hard landing. Factors relating to the accident were the light conditions (dusk) and the pilot's lack of total experience in the type of airplane. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

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

A pilot reported being blinded by sunlight during the flare, resulting in a high flare, heavy bumps, and stall warning. The aircraft remained on the runway and taxied to the ramp. Post-accident inspection found no anomalies.

Incident Details

According to the pilot's report, the approach and traffic pattern were uneventful until the flare for landing. During the flare, the pilot was momentarily blinded by sunlight, which caused difficulty in accurately judging the altitude above the runway. As a result, the pilot flared too high. To protect the nosewheel, the pilot kept the nose of the airplane up. The speed bled off, leading to heavy bumps onto the runway accompanied by a stall warning. After three or four bumps, the airplane stayed on the runway. The pilot then taxied to the ramp without further incident.

Pilot Remarks

The pilot attributed the hard landing to the lighting conditions and his landing picture, which was based on his experience landing an Airbus A340. He recommended that he obtain more landings to develop the correct visual picture during the flare.

Post-Accident Examination

A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020417X00528. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.