Cessna 120 N72552

Summary

On 21 October 2017 at about 14:30 local time, a Cessna 120 registered N72552 was involved in an accident near New Bern, North Carolina, 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

21 October 2017 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

New Bern, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Coastal Carolina Regional (EWN)

Coordinates

35.0736, -77.0425

Aircraft

Cessna 120

Registration

N72552

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Washington → New Bern

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA027

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, he believed he "just hit a little to[o] hard," and the airplane porpoised. He added that he attempted to recover but could not get control of the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the left and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and the left wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.