Cessna 172P accident near Portland, Oregon, July 8, 2022
On July 8, 2022 at about 3:35 am local time, a 1982 Cessna 172P, registered N90558, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Portland, Oregon (Portland-Hillsboro airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot under instruction’s improper landing flare, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 2022 · about 3:35 am local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Portland, Oregon · Portland-Hillsboro · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P, built 1982 · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N90558 · registry record · serial 17274773
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, during the instructional flight, the pilot under instruction was practicing an instrument approach. The pilot started the flare about 30 ft above ground level (agl) which caused the airspeed to decrease. The airplane subsequently landed hard, and the airplane bounced. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and applied full power. However, the airplane banked left, the left wing struck the ground, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The airplane’s left wing and aileron were substantially damaged. The flight instructor 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) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 119 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 44 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 18, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 823 hours in all; 345 in this make and model; 174 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 698 as pilot in command; 412 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 19, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,607.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 7, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-D2J (piston); 10,896 hours total
- Operator: Hillsboro Aero Academy
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31L, 6,600 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KHIO
Weather report (METAR): KHIO 080253Z 32008KT 10SM BKN050 BKN080 OVC100 21/15 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP166 T02110150 53002
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Post-accident view of damage to left wing auxiliary spar
Photo 2 – Post-accident view of damage to the left butt rib
Photo 3 – Post-accident view of damage to the left aileronThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N90558 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,686 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-D2J 96 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Portland-Hillsboro Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Oregon 1,864 since 1982 · 279 in the last ten years
- Oregon 7,011 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR22LA250.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.