No fatalities

2 Jul 2009: CESSNA 172S — UND Aerospace Foundation — Grand Forks, ND

Grand Forks, ND, United States

On 2 Jul 2009, a CESSNA 172S operated by UND Aerospace Foundation was involved in an aviation accident near Grand Forks, ND. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 17 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During his first solo flight, a student pilot experienced a hard landing and propeller strike after a stall warning horn sounded during flare. The aircraft bounced several times before stabilizing, and post-flight inspection revealed a curled propeller blade tip and deformed engine firewall.

Incident Overview

The accident occurred while a student pilot was conducting his third landing on his first solo flight. According to the pilot's report, the final approach was flown at an airspeed between 72 and 74 knots. As the airplane crossed over the runway numbers, the pilot reduced engine power.

Sequence of Events

During the flare, the stall warning horn activated, but the aircraft did not descend onto the runway. In response, the pilot reduced yoke back pressure, causing the airplane to land hard on the runway. Subsequently, the airplane bounced several times before the landing rollout stabilized.

Post-Flight Inspection

An after-flight inspection revealed damage to the propeller and airframe. Specifically, one propeller blade tip was curled from contact with the runway, and the engine firewall was substantially deformed. No other damage or injuries were reported.

Contributing factors

Incorrect use/operationStudent pilot