Cessna 172R accident near Salina, Kansas, September 11, 2012
On September 11, 2012 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172R, registered N824KS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Salina, Kansas (Salina Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's improper flare in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2012 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Salina, Kansas · Salina Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172R · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N824KS · registry record · serial 17280564
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing takeoffs and landings. During the climb after a stop-and-go landing on the 4,300 foot long runway, the flight instructor reduced the engine power to idle to demonstrate a simulated engine-out landing to the student pilot. The flight instructor reported that the airplane made a rapid descent from about 200 feet above ground level, and then he flared too high; the airplane landed hard on the runway, substantially damaging the airplane’s firewall. The flight instructor stated that the wind at the time was from about 10 degrees left of the runway heading at 28 knots, gusting to 33 knots. The flight instructor reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions.
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
- Simulated/training event during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 287 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 205 as pilot in command; 17 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 2, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,493 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 29, 2012; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kansas State University Salina
The flight
- Departed from: KSLN Salina KS at 8:00 pm
- Destination: KSLN Salina KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,300 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 23 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KSLN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.