Cessna 172S accident near Corvallis, Oregon, May 13, 2010
On May 13, 2010 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N66083, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Corvallis, Oregon (Corvallis Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper use of the flight and engine controls, resulting in a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2010 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Corvallis, Oregon · Corvallis Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N66083 · registry record · serial 172S9938
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot receiving instruction reported that during the proficiency training flight, he was seated in the right front seat position while the flight instructor was in the left seat. Following a normal approach for landing, he felt the airplane begin to sink about three to five feet above the runway and attempted to compensate with flight control inputs. The pilot stated that the "automatic (almost subconscious) reaction was to push in the throttle with his right hand and pull back on the yoke with his left hand slightly," which, due to his right seated position, resulted in his right hand pushing the nose down and his left hand pulling back on the throttle thus reducing power. Subsequently, the airplane struck the ground and bounced back into the air. The pilot initiated a go-around followed by the flight instructor taking control of the airplane and landing uneventfully. Post accident examination of the airplane by the pilot and an airframe and power plant mechanic revealed that the engine firewall was structurally damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of 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) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Power lever › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 724 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 19, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,787 hours in all; 570 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 2,719 as pilot in command; 1,771 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 16, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CVO Corvallis OR
- Destination: CVO Corvallis OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,545 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:25 am from CVO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.