N103VK – Cessna 172 – 2020-08-18 NTSB Accident Report

On August 18, 2020, a Cessna 172 (N103VK) was involved in an incident near Phoenix, AZ. 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 improper pitch attitude and landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructors delayed remedial action.

The pilot receiving instruction reported that, while practicing a short field landing, he misjudged the touch down location, flared early and the airplane landed hard. The flight instructor reported that, he warned the pilot to maintain his pitch attitude, but he continued to flare and the airplane landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the nose wheel.

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR20CA293. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N103VK.