This May 2007 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Cessna 172.
Location: Hollywood, Fla.
Injuries: None.
Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The student pilot was practicing landings in gusty winds. He selected 20° of flaps while on final approach. When he reduced the power to idle for the flare, the airplane came down faster than anticipated, hit hard and then bounced back into the air. The Cessna came down again nose wheel first. The airplane then veered left, and hit a taxiway sign.
Probable cause:
