Summary
On August 10, 2013, a Cessna 172S (N544ER) was involved in an incident near Prescott, AZ. 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 pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
The pilot reported that following a series of practice takeoff and landings, she noticed that the wind was increasing and decided to land. During the landing she did not flare enough, and the airplane touched down just prior to when she thought it would. The hard landing resulted in structural damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR13CA375. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N544ER.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
The pilot reported that following a series of practice takeoff and landings, she noticed that the wind was increasing and decided to land. During the landing she did not flare enough, and the airplane touched down just prior to when she thought it would. The hard landing resulted in structural damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR13CA375