Cessna 172 accident near Durant, Oklahoma, April 27, 2016
On April 27, 2016 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2002 Cessna 172, registered N35387, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Durant, Oklahoma (Durant Rgnl - Eaker Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot candidate's incorrect action performance by pulling the throttle off early and the subsequent failure to maintain the descent rate, resulting in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2016 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Durant, Oklahoma · Durant Rgnl - Eaker Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 R, built 2002 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N35387 · registry record · serial 17281100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a private pilot practical examination, the private pilot candidate was seated in the left front seat of the airplane at the controls, with the designated pilot examiner candidate seated in the right front seat. The examiner candidate was being evaluated by a designated pilot examiner seated in the left, second row seat behind the pilot candidate. According to the examiner candidate, the flight segments were met satisfactorily and the pilot candidate was asked to complete a crosswind landing. The examiner candidate reported that the pilot candidate struggled during the first approach and initiated a go-around. During the second approach, about 15 feet above the runway, the pilot candidate pulled the throttle off. According to the pilot examiner seated in the back, the examiner candidate reached for the throttle as the airplane landed firm. The examiner candidate completed the landing and informed the pilot candidate that the examination was unsatisfactory and taxied the airplane to the maintenance hangar. An examination of the airplane revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilots reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight 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)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 58 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,235 hours in all; 506 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 4,151 as pilot in command; 3,429 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 3, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,730 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 27, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,711 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 4,854 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DUA Durant OK at 7:00 pm
- Destination: DUA Durant OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,001 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from KDUA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 14, 2016. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilots Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | 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.