On 15 Feb 2011, a CESSNA 172S operated by Phoenix East Aviation Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Daytona Beach, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by the pilot performing an inadequate flare, which led to a hard landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A Cessna 172S sustained substantial damage following a hard landing and subsequent bounces on the runway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
What happened
On February 15, 2011, a Cessna 172S, registration N378FA, was on approach to land at Daytona Beach, FL. As the pilot crossed the temporary runway threshold, the aircraft was leveled in a level attitude. Upon touchdown, the aircraft impacted the runway with significant force and bounced. The pilot then pushed the yoke forward, which caused a second bounce. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft's firewall. There were no injuries reported in the accident.
The investigation
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the impact. The weather conditions at the time were Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) with a visibility of 10 statute miles and winds from 010 degrees at 10 knots.
Probable cause
The accident was caused by the pilot performing an inadequate flare, which led to a hard landing.