# Accident 20010802025869A: Cessna 172, Mobile, AL, August 2, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 2, 2001, 11:30 local time - Place: Mobile, AL - Airport: Bates Field - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 30.6914° N, 88.2428° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at , within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6914&lon=-88.2428&mi=10 - Aircraft: N7006A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7006A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 172 (registry code 2072402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Reported engine: CONT O300A - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 242 total, 230 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL01LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA101) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010802025869A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) ON AUGUST 2, 2001, AT APPROXIMATELY 1130 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME N7006A A CESSNA 172 MADE A HARD LANDING ON ITS NOSE WHEEL AT THE MOBILE REGIONAL AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE RIGHT SEAT PRACTICING ILS APPROACHES. THE SAFETY PILOT OCCUPIED THE LEFT SEAT. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY HAD MADE ONE SUCCESSFUL ILS APPROACH. HE REQUESTED A TOUCH AND GO ON THE SECOND APPROACH WHICH WAS THREE MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED THE TOWER REQUESTED HE MAINTAIN HIS SPEED WHICH WAS 120 MPH. THE PILOT PERFORMED THIS MANEUVER WITHOUT FLAPS. AS HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN PORPOISING AND LANDED HARD ON THE NOSEWHEEL.THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE NOSE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND SUSTAINED FIRE WALL DAMAGE. (.19) ON AUGUST 2, 2001, ABOUT 1130 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172, N7006A, LANDED HARD ON ITS NOSEWHEEL AT MOBILE REGIONAL AIRPORT (KMOB) IN MOBILE, ALABAMA. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED BY THE PRIVATE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAM AGE, AND THE PILOT AND THE PRIVATE-RATED SAFETY PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED THE MOBILE DOWNTOWN AIRPORT (KBFM) AT 1100. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE RIGHT SEAT TO PRACTICE ILS APPROACHES ON RUNWAY 14; THE SAFETY PILOT OCCUPIED THE LEFT SEAT. THE PILOT HAD EXECUTED ONE PRACTICE APPROACH AND WAS THREE MILES FROM THE AIRPORT ON THE SECOND APPROACH WHEN THE TOWER REQUESTED THAT THE AIRPLANE MAINTAIN ITS SPEED. THE PILOT REPORTED THIS SPEED TO BE 120 MPH. THE PILOT REQUESTED AND WAS GRANTED A TOUCH-AND-GO, AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM THE MANEUVER WITHOUT FLAPS. AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE AIRPLANE FOR FLARE AND LANDING, THE AIRPLANE PORPOISED AND LANDED HARD ON THE NOSEWHEEL. AFTER THE HARD LANDING, THE AIRPLANE WAS SHUT DOWN AND INSPECTED BY THE PILOT AND SAFETY PILOT. THE PILOT OBSERVED DAMAGE TO THE NOSEWHEEL, AND THE NOSEWHEEL TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. THE PILOT TAXIED THE AIRPLANE TO AN AIRCRAFT SERVICE CENTER. INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE NOSEWHEEL ASSEMBLY AND FIREWALL. (.4) ON THE SECOND APPROACH TO LAND, THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING WITH FLAPS RETRACTED. AS THE PILOT FLARED FOR THE TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO PORPOISE. WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, THE PILOT REPORTED HEARING A THUD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR A COMPONENT FAILURE. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY AND ENGINE FIREWALL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE LANDING WINDS WERE 180 DEGREES AT 7 TO 15 KNOTS. RUNWAY 14. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ATL01LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA101), Aug 2, 2001: Cessna 172 (N7006A), Mobile, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in a hard landing. A factor was the pilot induced porpoise. ## Other reports on N7006A (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19810831058489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810831058489A), Aug 31, 1981: Cessna 172 (N7006A), Bay Minette, AL, Substantial damage. Left master switch on. Hand propped engine. Airplane ran into another aircraft N8310C when engine started. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.