N882TC – Cessna 172 – 2019-12-26 NTSB Accident Report

On December 26, 2019, a Cessna 172 (N882TC) was involved in an incident near Ormond 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, which resulted in a hard landing.

The student pilot reported that during his first solo flight, as the airplane approached to land, he flared too early, before reaching ground effect. Instead of performing a go-around, the student pilot then pitched the airplane nose down, which resulted in a hard landing on the nosewheel first. The airplane subsequently bounced and landed back on the main wheels before coming to a stop on the runway. After shutdown, the student and instructor noticed damage to the firewall and lower fuselage. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the student pilot report any.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA20CA078. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N882TC.