No fatalities

CESSNA 172S accident at Waco, TX, 7 Aug 2023

Waco, TX, United States

On August 7, 2023, a CESSNA 172S was involved in an aviation accident near Waco, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The solo student pilot’s improper descent path which resulted in a hard landing on the nose wheel and subsequent 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

Probable cause

The solo student pilot’s improper descent path which resulted in a hard landing on the nose wheel and subsequent bounced landing.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Student/instructed pilotDescent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintained

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 7 Aug 2023 CESSNA 172S accident near Waco, TX?

The solo student pilot’s improper descent path which resulted in a hard landing on the nose wheel and subsequent bounced landing.

Were there any fatalities in the 7 Aug 2023 CESSNA 172S accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 7 Aug 2023 involved a CESSNA 172S, at Waco, TX.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The solo student pilot’s improper descent path which resulted in a hard landing on the nose wheel and subsequent bounced landing.