N121CW – CESSNA 172S – 2013-07-22 NTSB Accident Report

On July 22, 2013, a Cessna 172S (N121CW) was involved in an incident near New Smyrna Beach, 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 landing flare and subsequent inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.

The student pilot reported that he was on his first solo flight. During his first landing as he flared the airplane, it landed hard and bounced on the runway multiple times. As the student pilot attempted to regain control of the airplane, the propeller contacted the runway. The student pilot brought the airplane to a full stop, and taxied off of the active runway to his awaiting instructor to inspect the airplane. They did not see any damage, and flew the airplane back to their home base. During a maintenance inspection it was discovered that the firewall was buckled. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA13CA335. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N121CW.