On June 6, 2014, a CESSNA AIRCRAFT CO 162 operated by GAU AIR LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Cross City, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot allowed the nose landing gear to contact the runway first, resulting in its collapse. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A student pilot's solo cross-country flight ended with a nose landing gear collapse after he touched down nose-first, causing substantial damage to the engine firewall.
Accident Details
A student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight. While landing at the destination airport, the pilot allowed the nose landing gear to contact the runway first. This resulted in the subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed a postaccident examination of the airplane. The inspection revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall.
Pilot Statement
The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause
The student pilot allowed the nose landing gear to contact the runway first, resulting in its collapse.
Contributing factors
Student/instructed pilotLanding flare — Not attained/maintained
Related events
Same aircraft family
22 Mar 2026 — CESSNA AIRCRAFT CO 162 (Rainier Flight Service LLC)
What happened in the 6 Jun 2014 CESSNA AIRCRAFT CO 162 accident near Cross City, FL?
A student pilot's solo cross-country flight ended with a nose landing gear collapse after he touched down nose-first, causing substantial damage to the engine firewall.
Were there any fatalities in the 6 Jun 2014 CESSNA AIRCRAFT CO 162 accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 6 Jun 2014 involved a CESSNA AIRCRAFT CO 162, operated by GAU AIR LLC, at Cross City, FL.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The student pilot allowed the nose landing gear to contact the runway first, resulting in its collapse.
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…