No fatalities

Go-Around After Ballooning Results in Empennage Strike with Fence

Monument Valley, UT, United States

On May 12, 2017, a CESSNA 172 N operated by AMERICAN AVIATION INC. was involved in an aviation accident near Monument Valley, UT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a 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

During landing, the airplane ballooned, prompting a go-around. The aircraft then descended, and its empennage struck a fence, causing substantial damage. No mechanical issues were reported.

Incident Overview

The pilot of the airplane reported that during the landing phase, the aircraft ballooned upward unexpectedly. In response, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver. However, after ballooning, the airplane descended, and the empennage (tail section) impacted a fence. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the empennage.

Aircraft and Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to its empennage as a result of the impact with the fence. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, or other specifics were provided.

Pilot Report

According to the pilot's account, the ballooning occurred during landing, and the go-around was executed to abort the landing. Following the go-around, the aircraft descended and struck the fence. The pilot did not report any additional factors or conditions contributing to the event.

Contributing factors

Causes

Landing flare — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 12 May 2017 CESSNA 172 N accident near Monument Valley, UT?

During landing, the airplane ballooned, prompting a go-around. The aircraft then descended, and its empennage struck a fence, causing substantial damage. No mechanical issues were reported.

Were there any fatalities in the 12 May 2017 CESSNA 172 N accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 12 May 2017 involved a CESSNA 172 N, operated by AMERICAN AVIATION INC., at Monument Valley, UT.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

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