Cessna 172S accident near Grand Forks, North Dakota, October 20, 2009
On October 20, 2009 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N519ND, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Grand Forks, North Dakota (Grand Forks International airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 2009 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Forks, North Dakota · Grand Forks International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N519ND · registry record · serial 172S10810
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident occurred during the student pilot's second landing on his first solo flight. He stated that the airplane was on a stabilized approach as it crossed over the runway threshold at 63 knots. He reduced engine power and began to flare as the airplane was abeam the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) system. He reported that the landing flare was "somewhat short" and that the airplane landed hard on its main landing gear. He reduced his back pressure on the control yoke and the nose wheel contacted the runway. The airplane then bounced several times, alternating between the nose and main landing gear, before stabilizing on a landing rollout. A postaccident inspection of the aircraft revealed the lower engine firewall and forward floorboards were substantially deformed. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 992 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 13, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Und Aerospace Foundation
The flight
- Departed from: KGFK Grand Forks ND at 5:10 pm
- Destination: KGFK Grand Forks ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35L, 7,349 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; ovct at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KGFK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.