Cessna 172S accident near Vernal, Utah, March 28, 2015
On March 28, 2015 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 2004 Cessna 172S, registered N2168D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Vernal, Utah (Vernal Rgnl 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain attitude control during landing flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2015 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vernal, Utah · Vernal Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S S, built 2004 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N2168D · registry record · serial 172S9649
- 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 he took off and maneuvered into the left traffic pattern. On final, the airplane was configured with 30 degrees of flaps with an approach speed of 70 knots. His flight instructor who was observing noted that during his first landing the nose wheel came in contact with the surface first, then his two main wheels, subsequently the airplane porpoised three times, the student pilot initiated a go-around, and landed without further incident. As a result of the hard landing, the flight instructor conducted a post flight inspection of the engine and airframe, substantial damage to the firewall was discovered. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,750.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 2, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 1,751 hours total
- Operator: H & H Versatile Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: VEL Vernal UT at 3:00 pm
- Destination: VEL Vernal UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 6,201 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KVEL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA15CA026.