Springfield, MO, USA
N7265T
Cessna 172A
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.
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.
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.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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