# NTSB CHI04CA088: Cessna 172A, N7265T, Springfield, MO, March 21, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 21, 2004, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Springfield, MO - Coordinates: 37.183334, -93.133613 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1833&lon=-93.1336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 58942 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58942/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA088 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to initiate a go-around and the airplane porpoised during the hard landing. Factors associated with the accident were the excessive groundspeed and the overload failure of the nose gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation, pilot in command (cause) - flare - improper, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ground - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane experienced a nose gear collapse following a loss of control while landing on a grass airstrip. The pilot stated that as he cleared the trees at the approach end of the runway he noted his airspeed was indicating 60 miles per hour, but his ground speed seemed fast. He stated that upon touchdown, the airplane bounced and porpoised contacting the grass airstrip on the nose gear. The pilot reported the nose gear collapsed and the nose of the airplane dug into the grass. The pilot stated he should have performed a go around when he noticed the fast ground speed. ## Factual narrative On March 21, 2004, at 1315 central standard time, a Cessna 172A, N7265T, operated by a private pilot, experienced a nose gear collapse during a hard landing on runway 24 (2,640 feet by 70 feet, grass) at the Flying Bar H Ranch (M02), near Springfield, Missouri. The pilot received a minor injury and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from M02 at about 1300. The pilot reported he took off from M02 and stayed in the traffic pattern to practice crosswind landings. The accident occurred on his first landing of the flight. The pilot reported that as he cleared the trees at the approach end of the runway he noted his airspeed was indicating 60 miles per hour. He stated his ground speed "seemed greater then I expected, but not enough to alarm me." He stated the airplane touched down hard and bounced. He stated he was unable to regain control of the airplane and the nose gear contacted the airstrip first at which time it collapsed. He reported the airplane came to rest about 1,000 feet from the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported the nose gear collapsed puncturing the fuselage behind the firewall. He also stated the engine was pushed back into the firewall. The pilot stated he should have performed a go around when he noticed the fast ground speed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7265T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7265T), registered now, S/N 46865, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172A - Registry model: [Cessna 172A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172a) (registry code 2072404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46865 - Engines: Continental O-300C reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Otis A. Keller - Registered owner: Same As Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MO2, Springfield, MO - Destination: MO2, Springfield, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 372 total, 198 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040321004759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040321004759A), Mar 21, 2004: Cessna 172A, Springfield, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was approaching to land on runway 24 at Flying bar h (MO2), airport near Springfield, MO. The nearest weather reporting facility at… 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. --- 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.