# NTSB FTW98LA417: Cessna 172N, N739JT, Gallup, NM, September 29, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 1998, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Gallup, NM - Coordinates: 35.512579, -108.78501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5126&lon=-108.7850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44052 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA417 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44052/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA417 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate landing flare. Factors were his misjudgement of altitude and his excessive airspeed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot, a Nepalese national, was on a cross-country flight to satisfy a portion of the requirements for a U.S. commercial pilot certificate. When he turned onto final approach at the end of the flight, he had to increase his crab angle to compensate for a crosswind he estimated to be greater than 10 knots. He also added power to maintain airspeed. As he got closer to the runway, he noticed his airspeed was 71 knots instead of 65 knots, so he reduced power to idle. The airplane touched down hard and bounced twice. On the third bounce, the nose wheel went 'flat' and broke. A witness said he saw the airplane when it was 200 feet above the runway threshold. It was in a nose down attitude and appeared to be going 'very fast.' He said the airplane touched down, 'bounced repeatedly,' then departed the right side of the runway. ## Factual narrative On September 29, 1998, approximately 1015 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N739JT, registered to JSR Enterprises and operated by Akih Air, was substantially damaged during landing at Gallup Municipal Airport, Gallup, New Mexico. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had originated in Flagstaff, Arizona, at 0905. The pilot, a Nepalese national, was on a cross-country flight to satisfy a portion of the requirements for a U.S. commercial pilot certificate. In his accident report, he said that when he turned onto final approach for runway 24 (7,312 ft. x 150 ft., asphalt), he had to increase his crab angle to compensate for a crosswind he estimated to be greater than 10 knots. He also added power to maintain airspeed. As he got closer to the runway, he noticed his airspeed was 71 knots instead of 65 knots, so he reduced power to idle. The airplane touched down hard and bounced twice. On the third bounce, the nose wheel went "flat" and broke. A witness told an FAA inspector he observed the airplane when it was 200 feet above the runway threshold. He said it was in a nose down attitude and appeared to be going "very fast." He said the airplane touched down, "bounced repeatedly," then departed the right side of the runway. A Gallup Flying Service spokesperson told the FAA inspector they inspected the airplane and found the nose gear bent aft, a damaged firewall, and a broken rear tie down ring. Propeller strike marks were also found on the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N739JT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N739JT-2013-06-10), registration cancelled 2013-06-10, S/N 17270586, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17270586 - Airframe hours: 6728 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Akih Air - Registered owner: Jsr Enterprise - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 1998, 20 hours before - Departed: FLG, FLAGSTAFF, AZ - Destination: GUP - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: GUP, Gallup Municipal Airport, runway 24, 7,312 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GUP ## 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 19980929026939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980929026939A), Sep 29, 1998: Cessna 172N, Gallup, NM, Substantial damage. Acft bounced several times on landing. The nose gear collapsed, and the acft ran off the rwy. (.19) on September 29, 1998, approximately 1015 mountain daylight… ## Other investigations on N739JT (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 DEN80FQA17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FQA17), Feb 10, 1980: Cessna 172N (N739JT), Albuquerque, NM, 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. --- 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.