On December 21, 2002, a Cessna 172N (registration N733AM) was involved in an aviation accident near Pacoima, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the student pilot's excessive use of the elevator control that resulted in an inadvertent lift-off and his failure to maintain/attain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall and hard landing. 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.
A student pilot on his first solo flight experienced a hard landing after the airplane stalled during a touch-and-go landing roll. The pilot reported applying excessive backpressure on the yoke.
Accident Details
A student pilot on his first solo flight was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the final approach, the airplane was higher than the normal approach path. The pilot successfully landed the airplane without incident. However, during the landing roll, the airplane became airborne again, climbing to an estimated 15 to 20 feet above ground level. The airplane then stalled and descended abruptly back to the runway surface. The nose wheel touched down first, resulting in a hard landing.
Pilot Report
The student pilot stated that he believed he had applied too much backpressure on the yoke. This input caused the airplane to lift off the runway during the landing roll. The pilot indicated that the stall occurred because of the excessive backpressure.
Operator Report
The operator reported that no mechanical malfunctions or failures were found in the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane was operating normally before the hard landing.
What happened in the 21 Dec 2002 Cessna 172N accident near Pacoima, CA?
A student pilot on his first solo flight experienced a hard landing after the airplane stalled during a touch-and-go landing roll. The pilot reported applying excessive backpressure on the yoke.
Were there any fatalities in the 21 Dec 2002 Cessna 172N accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 21 Dec 2002 involved a Cessna 172N, registration N733AM, at Pacoima, CA.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
the student pilot's excessive use of the elevator control that resulted in an inadvertent lift-off and his failure to maintain/attain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall and hard landing.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…