Cessna 172P accident near Troutdale, Oregon, May 24, 2008
On May 24, 2008 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N62348, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Troutdale, Oregon (Portland-Troutdale 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 failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in collision with a runway light.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2008 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Troutdale, Oregon · Portland-Troutdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N62348 · registry record · serial 17275254
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was performing a first supervised solo traffic pattern flight on runway 25. After completing three touch-and-go landings, he flared prematurely and bounced the fourth landing and subsequently landed hard. According to the student pilot, the aircraft yawed to the left due to the impact and a low crosswind condition. In a subsequent discussion after the accident, the student pilot reported to his Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) that he was focused on the cockpit instruments during the initial bounced landing recovery efforts, and by the time he looked out again, the airplane had drifted to the left edge of the runway. He initiated a rejected landing, resulting in a climb-out heading 50 degrees to the left of the runway heading. This was followed by a traffic pattern with a full stop landing. The student pilot and CFI reported that earlier in the day they had completed 1 hour of dual instruction. The dual flight consisted of airwork and seven touch-and-go landings in the pattern. The CFI observed the solo flight from the ramp but did not witness the rejected landing because he had turned to walk back to the FBO facility. Later that day, a dispatcher observed damage to the aircraft and notified the student pilot and CFI. The damage looked like the horizontal stabilizer had been grazed by a pole-like object on the bottom side. An FAA inspector confirmed structural damage to the right horizontal stabilizer. The CFI requested to examine the runway and found a damaged runway light, with a ground track mark in the grass leading up to and away from it. The CFI stated that the airplane had no mechanical malfunctions or irregularities with the control system during their dual flight, and the student did not claim any.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway lighting › Not specified
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 36 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TTD Troutdale OR
- Destination: TTD Portland OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,399 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KTTD
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.