Cessna 172 N509ND

Summary

On 2 May 2016 at about 17:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N509ND, operated by UND Aerospace Foundation, was involved in an accident near Mesa, Arizona, 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

2 May 2016 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Mesa, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (IWA)

Coordinates

33.3042, -111.6564

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N509ND

Category

Airplane

Year built

2010

Engines

1

Operator

UND Aerospace Foundation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Coolidge → Mesa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA219

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in an abnormal runway contact, porpoise, nose gear collapse, runway excursion, and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot reported that during landing the airplane porpoised, subsequently he attempted to abort the landing, but the airplane touched down again, which resulted in a collapsed nose gear, runway excursion, and an impact with terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. According to the student pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.