# NTSB ATL01LA018: Cessna 172, N8507B, Mobile, AL, November 30, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 30, 2000, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Mobile, AL
- Location: 30.6944° N, 88.0431° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mobile, AL, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6944&lon=-88.0431&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50924
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50924/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA018

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare during landing that resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent overload failure of the nose gear assembly.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear attach point - overload (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

According to the pilot, during landing on the grass strip, the airplane bounced, power was added and shortly after, the nose gear collapsed. Examination of the nose gear attach points found the gear had separated in overload.

## Factual narrative

On November 30, 2000, at 1430 central standard time, a Cessna 172, N8507B, registered to Pruitt Homes of Missouri, Inc., was substantially damaged when the landing gear collapsed during landing roll at Skywest Airpark Airport in Mobile, Alabama.  The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  The flight originated from Fairhope Municipal Airport in Fairhope, Alabama, at 1400.

According to the pilot, during landing on the grass strip she came in with 40 degrees of flaps and a airspeed of 65 to 75 knots. She made a harder than usual landing on the main wheels and bounced around 5 to 6 feet. She landed the aircraft and upon rollout the nose landing gear collapsed.

Examination of the nose gear attach points found the gear had separated in overload.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8507B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8507B-2026-09-05), registration cancelled 2026-09-05, S/N 36207 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 36207
- Airframe hours: 3656
- Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stella S. Bodenmann
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 2000, 20 hours before
- Departed: 4R4, FAIRHOPE, AL
- Destination: S26
- Airport: S26, Skywest Airpark, runway 29, 2,467 × 110 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 121 total, 30 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MOB, 7 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20001130031439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001130031439A), Nov 30, 2000: Cessna 172, Mobile, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] stated she was landing at Skywest air park S26 Mobile, AL. Prior to touch down, she reduced all power. The a/c bounced…

## Other investigations on N8507B (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 MKC76FCA22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76FCA22), Apr 24, 1976: Cessna 172 (N8507B), Shelbyville, MO, substantial damage

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.

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