No fatalities

CESSNA 172 M accident at Churchville, MD, 19 Jun 2020

Churchville, MD, United States

On June 19, 2020, a CESSNA 172 M operated by Harford Air Services was involved in an aviation accident near Churchville, MD. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper landing flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard 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

Probable cause

The student pilot's improper landing flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Causes

Landing flare — Not attained/maintainedStudent/instructed pilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on operation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 19 Jun 2020 CESSNA 172 M accident near Churchville, MD?

The student pilot's improper landing flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.

Were there any fatalities in the 19 Jun 2020 CESSNA 172 M accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 19 Jun 2020 involved a CESSNA 172 M, operated by Harford Air Services, at Churchville, MD.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The student pilot's improper landing flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.