Cessna 172 N524ND

Summary

On 2 December 2017 at about 15:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N524ND, operated by University of North Dakota, was involved in an accident near Park Rapids, Minnesota, 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 December 2017 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Park Rapids, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Park Rapids Muni-Konshok Field (PKD)

Coordinates

46.9008, -95.0725

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N524ND

Category

Airplane

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

University of North Dakota

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Forks → Park Rapids

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA085

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in the propeller striking the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The director of aviation safety for the flight school reported that the student pilot was on her first solo cross-country flight and that, during the approach to land, the airplane was fast and high. Subsequently, the airplane landed nose low, and the propeller struck the ground. The student did not know the propeller or fuselage had been damaged during the landing and continued the rest of her intended flight without further incident. The next assigned flight crew discovered the damage, and an examination by the maintenance department revealed that the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The director of aviation safety 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.