N53720 – CESSNA 172P – 2012-09-25 NTSB Accident Report

On September 25, 2012, a Cessna 172P (N53720) was involved in an incident near Richmond, KY. 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 student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student.

According to the flight instructor, while conducting touch and go takeoffs and landings with a student pilot, they made a “stabilized” approach to the runway with an increase in engine power due to a strong headwind. The student pilot flared the airplane “high,” and the airplane descended rapidly. The flight instructor took control of the airplane, added full engine power, but the airplane subsequently impacted the runway. Then, flight instructor continued with another takeoff, they flew around the pattern, the student pilot made a full stop landing, taxied back to the hangar and the instructor pilot asked maintenance personnel to check the airplane before the next scheduled flight. The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall incurred substantial damage.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA12CA579. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N53720.