Cessna 172 N497TC

Summary

On 30 July 2017 at about 20:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N497TC, operated by Pinnacle Aviation Academy, Inc., was involved in an accident near Carlsbad, California, 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

30 July 2017 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Carlsbad, California, United States

Nearest airport

Mc Clellan-Palomar (CRQ)

Coordinates

33.1289, -117.2758

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N497TC

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Pinnacle Aviation Academy, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ramona → Carlsbad

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA470

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions.

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, during landing, the airplane porpoised, and the propeller struck the runway. He added that he initiated a go-around, landed, and taxied back to the ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 250° at 8 knots, gusting 16 knots. The same weather observation station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 250° at 10 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 24.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.