Cessna 172M accident near Tucson, Arizona, September 14, 2003
On September 14, 2003 at about 7:38 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N73179, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Tucson International airport). It was a personal 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 flare. A contributing factor was the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2003 · about 7:38 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Tucson International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N73179 · registry record · serial 17267306
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot made a hard landing and the nose landing gear collapsed. On final, the airspeed decreased and a high sink rate developed about 5 feet above the runway surface. The pilot applied power but the airplane impacted the runway. He attempted a go-around and increased power. As the airplane established a slight climb, he partially retracted the flaps. The airplane came back down and collided with the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded on its nose. The pilot felt the accident was the result of the airplane being at too slow of airspeed on final and his delayed reaction. The METAR reported winds from 330 degrees at 4 knots; the pilot was landing runway 11R.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 122 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KTUS Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11R
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KTUS
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.