N9965P – CESSNA 172S – 2012-09-03 NTSB Accident Report

On September 03, 2012, a Cessna 172S (N9965P) was involved in an incident near Sebring, FL. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

The student pilot reported that during a solo flight, just prior to touchdown, he flared the airplane too high above the runway. The airplane touched down hard and bounced; however, the student pilot was able to complete the landing and did not notice any anomalies at that time. He subsequently performed another takeoff and landing uneventfully. At the conclusion of his last flight of the day, the student pilot noticed damage to the airplane. The student pilot added that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the hard landing. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the firewall and lower fuselage.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA12CA560. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9965P.