N64144 – CESSNA 172 – 2017-04-28 NTSB Accident Report

On April 28, 2017, a Cessna 172 (N64144) was involved in an incident near Columbia, 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 pilot’s failure to maintain a flare during landing in variable, gusting wind conditions.

The pilot reported that while on his second attempt to land in gusting wind conditions, the airplane was "tossed" up and then a "downdraft" caused the airplane to "descend rapidly". He added full power, however the airplane landed hard, the nose and right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage.

The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot reported the weather at the accident site, about the time of the accident, as wind variable at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot landed on about a 310° heading.

This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA17CA254. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N64144.