Cessna 172 N456SP

Summary

On 4 November 2016 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N456SP, operated by Mike Pratt, was involved in an accident near Danville, Kentucky, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 November 2016 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Danville, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Stuart Powell Field (DVK)

Coordinates

37.5736, -84.7622

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N456SP

Category

Airplane

Year built

1999

Engines

1

Operator

Mike Pratt

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Louisville → Danville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA069

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, while on final approach following a cross-country flight, he experienced what felt like a down draft or wind shear. The airplane touched down hard on the runway, bounced, and on the second touchdown, the nosewheel impacted the surface first. The student pilot taxied the airplane to the ramp without further incident. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was 040° at 5 knots. The airplane landed on runway 30.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.