No fatalities

Nose Gear Collapses After Hard Landing Bounce

Auburn, CA, United States

On September 18, 2016, a CESSNA 172 N operated by FLYING VIKINGS INC. was involved in an aviation accident near Auburn, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported a hard bounce during landing, leading to a second abrupt touchdown that collapsed the nose gear. The airplane veered left and stopped off the runway, sustaining substantial firewall damage.

Incident

During the landing touchdown, the airplane bounced hard, pitched up, and became airborne again. The pilot pushed the flight controls forward to lower the pitch attitude, and the airplane touched down again "abruptly" on the main landing gear, which was "almost immediately followed by the nose gear."

Landing Roll

During the landing roll, the airplane rolled to the left. The pilot "realized the nose gear had collapsed" because he could not steer the airplane. The airplane stopped off to the left edge of the runway.

Damage

The firewall sustained substantial damage.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

PilotLanding flare — Not attained/maintained

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 18 Sept 2016 CESSNA 172 N accident near Auburn, CA?

A pilot reported a hard bounce during landing, leading to a second abrupt touchdown that collapsed the nose gear. The airplane veered left and stopped off the runway, sustaining substantial firewall damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 18 Sept 2016 CESSNA 172 N accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 18 Sept 2016 involved a CESSNA 172 N, operated by FLYING VIKINGS INC., at Auburn, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.