No fatalities

CESSNA 172R accident at Birchwood, AK, 18 Sept 2021

Birchwood, AK, United States

On September 18, 2021, a CESSNA 172R operated by ELMENDORF AERO CLUB was involved in an aviation accident near Birchwood, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot, and student pilot’s improper landing flare, resulting 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 flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot, and student pilot’s improper landing flare, resulting in a hard landing.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Instructor/check pilotStudent/instructed pilotLanding flare — Not attained/maintained

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 18 Sept 2021 CESSNA 172R accident near Birchwood, AK?

The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot, and student pilot’s improper landing flare, resulting in a hard landing.

Were there any fatalities in the 18 Sept 2021 CESSNA 172R accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 18 Sept 2021 involved a CESSNA 172R, operated by ELMENDORF AERO CLUB, at Birchwood, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot, and student pilot’s improper landing flare, resulting in a hard landing.