Council Bluffs Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
Monday, May 26, 2003 20:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The aircraft sustained substantial damaged during a hard landing. The pilot subsequently lost control and the aircraft departed the runway surface. The firewall exhibited wrinkling consistent with a vertical impact to the nose landing gear. The propeller was reportedly damaged beyond repairable limits. The nose wheel steering linkage was intact. The pilot reported no malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident. Calm winds were reported at the airport five minutes before the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Misjudgment of the landing flare by the pilot in command resulting in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/26/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Council Bluffs
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 51501
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 411534N
Event Location Longitude 0954536W
Event Location Airport Council Bluffs Muni
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CBF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1253
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1955 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CBF
Elevation of weather observation facility 1253
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.14
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14557
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 19 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1019
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 30 2003 8:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA -- Des Moines FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1730F
NTSB Number CHI03LA166
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172H
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17255125
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 11 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 19.7
Airframe Hours 3573.4
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jeked Co
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2351 Highway 191
Aircraft Owner City Council Bluffs
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 51503
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John F. Dalton
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 16749 State Orchard Road
Operator City Council Bluffs
Operator State IA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 51503
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MJQ
Departure City Jackson
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code CBF
Destination City Council Bluffs
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 5 2003 8:18AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 130
Runway Length 4100
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight --
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --