Cessna 172S accident near San Carlos, California, March 7, 2022
On March 7, 2022, a 2014 Cessna 172S, registered N653ND, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near San Carlos, California (San Carlos 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 landing flare which resulted 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
- March 7, 2022
- Place
- San Carlos, California · San Carlos Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S 172S11469, built 2014 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N653ND · registry record · serial 172S11469
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the airplane reported that, while on short final to land, the airplane experienced a sudden loss of airspeed due to windshear. The pilot continued the approach and reported that he flared too high, and the airplane bounced during landing. He elected to go around, and during the second landing the airplane bounced again. During the third landing attempt, the pilot successfully landed the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage undercarriage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 330° at 12 knots. The pilot reported that during the accident flight, the wind was at 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The airplane landed on runway 30.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 170 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 99 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 10, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,515.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 31, 2022; 53.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 4,023 hours total
- Operator: Pelican Flight Training LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,621 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 pm from KSQL, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSQL 062247Z 33012KT 10SM FEW026 16/06 A3026=
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 August 22, 2022. 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 | Damage 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.