Cessna 172N accident near Marana, Arizona, November 30, 2000
On November 30, 2000 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N8173E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marana, Arizona (Marana 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 student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor in the accident was the morning sun, which momentarily restricted the pilot's vision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 30, 2000 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona · Marana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N8173E · registry record · serial 17272147
- 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 the final approach was normal until he began the flare, when the morning sun momentarily restricted his vision. His vision cleared but he was surprised by early contact with the runway. The airplane bounced and the pilot attempted to maintain control without adding power. The pilot regained control after the subsequent bounce and taxied off the runway. After taxing clear of the runway the pilot noticed the prop had struck the ground. Subsequent inspection revealed that the firewall was damaged.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 26 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,624 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 24, 2000; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MZJ at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 6,901 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 142°F (61°C), dew point 99°F (37°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from TUS, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.