N78794 – CESSNA 172K – 2012-06-15 NTSB Accident Report

On June 15, 2012, a Cessna 172K (N78794) was involved in an incident near Tupelo, MS. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.

According to the pilot, the airplane arrived at the cross country airport late in the day, but still under daylight conditions with the runway lights illuminated. Winds were calm. The pilot maintained his target approach airspeed at 30 degrees' flaps; however, once over the runway, the airplane floated about 1,000 feet. The airplane then bounced twice with the pilot maintaining the same yoke position. After the second bounce, the pilot thought about adding power, but events were occurring too rapidly. Instead, the airplane descended again to the runway; the nose landing gear separated from the airframe, damaging the engine firewall; and the airplane slid to a stop. Neither the pilot nor the passenger reported any preexisting mechanical anomalies.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA12CA404. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N78794.