N722SACessna 1722020-07-09 NTSB Accident Report

Substantial
None

Cessna 172S/N: 17280026

Summary

On July 09, 2020, a Cessna 172 (N722SA) was involved in an incident near Auburn, ME. 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 on the nosegear and nosegear collapse.

The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane floated, and she believed that she intuitively released back pressure to get the airplane to land. Subsequently, the nose landing gear impacted the runway first and collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. The student pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA20CA250. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N722SA.

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, July 9, 2020
NTSB Number
ERA20CA250
Location
Auburn, ME
Event ID
20200709X40852
Coordinates
44.048610, -70.283607
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing on the nosegear and nosegear collapse.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
17280026
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
172C172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
4
FAA Model
172R

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
ELMENDORF AFB
Address
PO BOX 6292
City
ELMENDORF AFB
State / Zip Code
AK 99506-6292
Country
United States

Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane floated, and she believed that she intuitively released back pressure to get the airplane to land. Subsequently, the nose landing gear impacted the runway first and collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. The student pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions 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# ERA20CA250