Cessna 172P accident near Zelienople, Pennsylvania, March 20, 2004
On March 20, 2004 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N62058, was substantially damaged in an accident near Zelienople, Pennsylvania (Zelienople Municipal 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 improper 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
- March 20, 2004 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Zelienople, Pennsylvania · Zelienople Municipal Airport · 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
- N62058 · registry record · serial 17275204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on short final for landing, the pilot added the last notch of flaps, and trimmed the airplane nose up to slow the airspeed. During the landing flare, "it felt like the bottom fell out," and the airplane bounced on the runway. He then attempted to add power; however, at the same time, the airplane descended back to the runway abruptly, shattering the nose wheel. The propeller struck the runway and the airplane slid to rest on the remaining runway. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane.
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: 65 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command; 51 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,169 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 2004; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8G7 Zelienople PA at 9:15 am
- Destination: 8G7
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,102 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 pm from BVI, 10 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.