Cessna 172RG N9440D

Summary

On 6 April 2022 at about 14:05 local time, a Cessna 172RG registered N9440D, operated by Airlink Flight School, was involved in an accident near Waterville, Maine, 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

6 April 2022 at 14:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Waterville, Maine, United States

Nearest airport

Waterville Robert LaFleur Airp (WVL)

Coordinates

44.5293, -69.6785

Aircraft

Cessna 172RG

Registration

N9440D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1984

Engines

1

Operator

Airlink Flight School

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waterville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA183

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s incorrect landing flare, which resulted in a hard bounced landing and nose landing gear collapse.

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 following performing maneuvers in the local area he returned to the airport to complete touch-and-go landings. He had completed four landings and remained in the pattern for his fifth landing, in which he planned to do a soft field landing. Upon touchdown, the pilot described that a “hard bounce” sent the airplane back into the air. When the airplane touched down again, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a stop on the runway. The fuselage and rudder sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.