Cessna 172S accident near Alabaster, Alabama, August 4, 2009
On August 4, 2009 at about 9:37 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N2110Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Alabaster, Alabama (Shelby County 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 failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2009 · about 9:37 pm local time
- Place
- Alabaster, Alabama · Shelby County Airport · 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
- N2110Q · no longer on the register · serial 172S9610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that he departed from a local area airport and remained in left closed traffic for landing. He completed the before landing check on downwind and lowered flaps to 10 degrees. The pilot turned base, lowered the flaps to 20 degrees, turned on final, and lowered the flaps to 30 degrees while decreasing the airplane's airspeed. He continued on final approach and the airplane crossed the landing threshold at 50 feet mean sea level. The pilot flared the airplane and it touched down on the runway at about midfield. The airplane bounced, touched back down on the runway, and veered from right to left. The pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane went off the left side of the runway into the grass, collided with an embankment, and subsequently came to a stop. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane. "He flared too high, the airplane bounced and he lost directional control 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 24 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,172 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 30, 2009; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EET Alabaster AL at 9:32 pm
- Destination: EET Alabaster AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from EET
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.