Cessna 172K accident near Warwick, Rhode Island, August 20, 2000
On August 20, 2000 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N46549, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warwick, Rhode Island (T.F. Green State 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 pilot's delayed recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2000 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Warwick, Rhode Island · T.F. Green State Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N46549 · registry record · serial 17257344
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning to land after radio transmission problems, and ATC requested an 'expedited' final approach. The pilot complied with the instruction by increasing the airspeed to 115 mph. As the airplane neared the runway, the pilot progressively reduced airspeed to 65 mph, extended the flaps to 30 degrees, and compensated for a 'minor' crosswind. Over the runway, with the throttle at idle, the pilot flared the airplane and the main landing gear touched down on the runway. The pilot then encountered significant wind gusts and the airplane became airborne. The airplane touched down a second time on the nose wheel and 'spontaneously began a rapid pitch oscillation.' Through the use of ailerons and brakes, the pilot stopped the airplane on the runway and taxied to the ramp. While taxiing on the ramp, the nose wheel became uncontrollable and the brakes seized. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed two flat tires, two bent propeller blades, a damaged nose gear assembly, and a bent firewall.
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: 63 hours in all; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVD at 2:10 pm
- Destination: BID Block Island RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 6,081 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from PVD
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.