Cessna 172RG accident near Truckee, California, December 2, 2008
On December 2, 2008 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N172MN, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Truckee, California (Truckee-Tahoe 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 misjudged the landing flare resulting in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 2008 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee-Tahoe Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N172MN · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0268
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during a normal approach to landing he misjudged the height between the airplane and the runway during the flare and the airplane settled onto the runway hard. The airplane bounced and the pilot said he lowered the nose and the airplane entered a porpoise followed by the propeller contacting the runway. The firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot said there were no pre impact 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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 274 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 136 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 30, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,563 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O02 Beckwourth CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: TRK Truckee CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 19, 4,650 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from TRK
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.