Cessna 172 accident near Moose Creek Ranger Station, Idaho, June 20, 2021
On June 20, 2021 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1969 Cessna 172, registered N79523, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Moose Creek Ranger Station, Idaho (Moose Creek /Usfs/ 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’s improper landing flare which resulted in a bounced hard landing and subsequent nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2021 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moose Creek Ranger Station, Idaho · Moose Creek /Usfs/ · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 K, built 1969 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N79523 · no longer on the register · serial 17258148
- 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, while in the pattern for landing, he turned a short base leg, followed by a short final approach leg. A “rapid roundout” was initiated at touchdown which resulted in the airplane bouncing. During the last bounce, the nose gear sheared off and the airplane subsequently nosed over coming to rest inverted. The right wing and wing lift strut were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 370 hours in all; 213.9 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 370 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 20, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,740 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2020; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 1,160 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPUW Pullman WA at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04/2, 2,300 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 12:52 pm from KP69, 28 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KP69 201952Z AUTO VRB04KT 28/11 A2997 RMK AO1 SLP125 T02830111
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 21, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.