Gallup, NM, USA
N739JT
Cessna 172N
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.
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.
The pilot's inadequate landing flare. Factors were his misjudgement of altitude and his excessive airspeed.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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