Cessna 172 N254EK

Summary

On 30 April 2018 at about 02:40 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N254EK was involved in an accident near Palo Alto, California, United States. 4 people were 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 April 2018 at 02:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Palo Alto, California, United States

Nearest airport

Palo Alto (PAO)

Coordinates

37.4611, -122.1150

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N254EK

Category

Airplane

Year built

2011

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palo Alto → Palo Alto

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA294

Nobody was injured.

The 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 pilot reported that, during short final, he noticed "a sudden lack of wind," and the airplane began to descend. He added that the airplane landed hard and bounced multiple times. He taxied back to the parking ramp without further incident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane rental company owner reported that the pilot did not notify any personnel of the hard, bounded landing. He added that, during a later flight, the airplane owner noticed a vibration and landed to examine the airplane. Postflight examination revealed propeller damage and substantial damage to the fuselage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.