Cessna 172N accident near San Diego, California, October 7, 2009
On October 7, 2009 at about 9:52 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N2219E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near San Diego, California (Montgomery Field 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 flare and inadequate 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
- October 7, 2009 · about 9:52 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery Field 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
- N2219E · registry record · serial 17271189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that during landing on Runway 28R he lost control of the airplane after touchdown. The tower controller reported that, after touchdown, the airplane bounced a couple of times before the airplane exited the left side of the runway. During the excursion, the left main landing gear leg broke off and the left horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. According to the airfield's automated weather report, winds at the time of the accident were estimated to be from 250 degrees at 10 knots. There was no report of a mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane at the time of the accident.
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)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 69 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 5, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,081 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Plus One Flyers, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 3,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from MYF
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.