No fatalities

9 Aug 2016: CESSNA 172S — SKYMATES INC — Arlington, TX

Arlington, TX, United States

On 9 Aug 2016, a CESSNA 172S operated by SKYMATES INC was involved in an aviation accident near Arlington, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a full-stop landing, a student pilot experienced a hard touchdown and multiple bounces, culminating in nose gear collapse and runway excursion. No preimpact mechanical issues were reported.

Incident Summary

A student pilot was conducting a full-stop landing on a 100-foot-wide paved runway. The initial touchdown was described as "very hard," causing the airplane to bounce to a very high altitude. The pilot did not initiate a go-around.

Landing Sequence

On the second touchdown, the pilot attempted to hold the airplane off the runway. However, the operating propeller struck the runway surface, resulting in a second bounce. During the third touchdown, the nose gear collapsed, leading to a loss of directional control. The airplane subsequently exited the left side of the runway.

Damage

After departing the runway surface, the airplane dug into the grass. The nose gear completely separated from the airframe, causing substantial damage to the firewall and forward fuselage.

Reported Conditions

The student pilot and the operator reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Contributing factors

Student/instructed pilotIncorrect use/operation