Cessna 172P accident near Richmond, Kentucky, September 25, 2012
On September 25, 2012 at about 1:06 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N53720, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Richmond, Kentucky (Madison 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 student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 2012 · about 1:06 pm local time
- Place
- Richmond, Kentucky · Madison · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N53720 · registry record · serial 17274807
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, while conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings with a student pilot, they made a “stabilized” approach to the runway with an increase in engine power due to a strong headwind. The student pilot flared the airplane high, and the airplane descended rapidly. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and added full engine power, but the airplane subsequently impacted the runway. The instructor continued with another takeoff, they flew around the pattern, and the student pilot made a full-stop landing and taxied back to the hangar. The instructor asked maintenance personnel to check the airplane before the next scheduled flight. The postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall incurred substantial damage. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Student pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 3,200 as pilot in command; 2,900 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 29, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 9 hours in all; 9 in this make and model
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 10 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,810 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 2012; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eastern Kentucky University
The flight
- Departed from: I39 Richmond KY at 12:30 pm
- Destination: I39 Richmond KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,404 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: vv; clear at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 1:05 pm from I39, 1 miles away
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.