Cessna 172N accident near Sells, Arizona, May 26, 2008
On May 26, 2008 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N2857E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sells, Arizona (Sells 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 inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain proper runway alignment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2008 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sells, Arizona · Sells Airport · 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
- N2857E · no longer on the register · serial 17271348
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After two touch-and-go landings at another airport, the pilot flew to Sells to perform one more touch-and-go landing. While flying over the airport to observe the runway, he thought he saw a windsock at the end of the runway, but later realized there was no windsock. He assumed the wind was calm, and made an approach to runway 4. The aircraft was too high and fast, so the pilot executed a go-around and approached again. This approach was also slightly high and fast, but he believed he could still land. The aircraft landed hard and bounced. The pilot decided to execute another go-around, and applied full power. The aircraft began drifting to the left, and the left wing tip struck a mesquite tree. The aircraft spun to the left, impacted more trees, and came to an abrupt stop. The pilot did not notice any strong wind at the time, but believes he may have had a slight tailwind. The observed wind at the closest observation station was variable at 4 knots. The pilot said there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 120 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,920 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 1, 2008
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVQ Marana AZ at 4:15 pm
- Destination: E78 Sells AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 5,830 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:53 am from KTUS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.