Cessna 172R accident near Cincinnati, Ohio, August 14, 2008
On August 14, 2008 at about 1:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172R, registered N21SZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Cincinnati, Ohio. 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 inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident were the improper flare and excessive airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2008 · about 1:10 pm local time · cases in 2008
- Place
- Cincinnati, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172R · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N21SZ · registry record · serial 17280653
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to practice landings at a tower controlled airport. He stated that he landed too fast and the airplane bounced on touchdown. He attempted to recover the landing, but the airplane began to porpoise. The pilot reported the airplane porpoised several times prior to the nose gear collapsing and the airplane coming to rest on the runway.
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
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Capability exceeded other cases naming the landing gear
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 16 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISZ Cincinnati OH at 12:30 pm
- Destination: LUK Cincinnati OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from LUK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N21SZ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,691 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 8,561 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Cincinnati Muni/Lunken Field · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Ohio 1,884 since 1982 · 253 in the last ten years
- Ohio 8,532 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI08CA253.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.