Cessna 172 accident near Sparta, Tennessee, March 27, 2022
On March 27, 2022 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1964 Cessna 172, registered N8431U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sparta, Tennessee (Upper Cumberland Regional Airp 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
Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly affix left main landing gear components, which led to the failure of the left main landing gear during the accident flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2022 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sparta, Tennessee · Upper Cumberland Regional Airp · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 F, built 1964 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8431U · registry record · serial 17252331
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a touch-and-go landing, the student pilot and flight instructor heard a pop sound as they touched down. The student pilot initiated a go-around and then informed the instructor that the left main landing gear (LMLG) had separated from the airplane. They flew for about 2.5 hours to reduce the airplane’s fuel load before attempting to land with the fractured LMLG. The landing was uneventful and the airplane came to a stop on the runway. According to the instructor the LMLG struck the horizontal stabilizer when it separated, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the left main landing gear spring strut revealed that the step bracket was tack welded onto the spring strut. According to the airplane manufacturer, step brackets can only be affixed to the spring strut using an approved epoxy adhesive; welding on the spring strut is not permitted. This improper maintenance resulted in a fatigue crack and the failure of the gear during the accident flight due to overstress.
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
- Aircraft structural failure during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › (general) › (general) › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Repair › Maintenance personnel
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,387 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 163 in the last 90 days; 62 in the last 30 days; 1,308 as pilot in command; 502 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 9, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 4,001 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 6,704 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from SRB
Weather report (METAR): KSRB 271635Z AUTO 31007KT 270V020 10SM CLR 06/M07 A3015 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on November 8, 2023. 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 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 22-104 | PDF, 15 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Manual Excerpt | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | 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.
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.