Cessna 172P accident near Kennesaw, Georgia, September 11, 2021
On September 11, 2021 at about 8:10 pm local time, a 1986 Cessna 172P, registered N9522L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Kennesaw, Georgia (Cobb County Intl-Mccollum Fld 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 pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2021 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Kennesaw, Georgia · Cobb County Intl-Mccollum Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P, built 1986 · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N9522L · registry record · serial 17276570
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that, while on final approach, that he crossed the runway numbers, but waited “too long” to flare the airplane and landed on the main landing gear and nosewheel at the same time. The airplane bounced, and the pilot “realized that [he] had made a very hard landing.” The airplane bounced another three times before coming to a stop. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the cockpit floor structure and engine firewall. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 67 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,074 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Yellow Jacket Flying Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Atlanta GA at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09/2, 6,295 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from RYY
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRYY 112050Z VRB03KT 10SM SCT055 28/16 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP219 T02830156 56015 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 7, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N9522L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.