No fatalities

11 Feb 2010: CESSNA 172P — ARI BEN AVIATOR INC — Fort Pierce, FL

Fort Pierce, FL, United States

On 11 Feb 2010, a CESSNA 172P operated by ARI BEN AVIATOR INC was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Pierce, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper flare during 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

A student pilot practicing touch and go landings experienced a hard landing, porpoise, and nose gear strike. After a go-around and uneventful landing, loss of directional control was noticed upon exiting the runway. Examination revealed substantial damage to the firewall and forward lower fuselage.

Accident Details

The accident occurred while a student pilot was practicing touch and go landings. The pilot had completed six landings prior to the accident sequence.

Sequence of Events

On the seventh landing, the student pilot misjudged the flare, causing the airplane to porpoise. The aircraft then landed hard on the main landing gear, resulting in a bounce. Following the bounce, the airplane landed on the nose gear. The pilot responded by applying full throttle and initiating a go-around. The pilot returned to the airport and performed an uneventful landing on another runway. However, upon exiting the runway, the pilot realized that directional control of the airplane was lost.

Damage Assessment

A subsequent examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall and the forward lower fuselage. No other damage items were specified in the source.

Contributing factors

Student pilotIncorrect use/operation