Burke Lakefront Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cleveland, Ohio 44070
Tuesady, August 19, 2003 11:36 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot approached the runway at 70 knots, idled the engine after crossing over the runway "numbers," and leveled off. He flared, and the airplane floated for a while. When the airplane landed, the pilot heard a noise, and thought he had hit something. The airplane ballooned about 5 feet in the air, and landed again. At that time, the nosewheel began to vibrate violently. The pilot realized that something was wrong, and made a decision not to go around. The airplane ballooned again, about 7 or 8 feet into the air, landed hard on the nosewheel, and bounced one last time. After the airplane settled onto the runway, it veered to the right and went into the grass. Examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall was completely wrinkled, and was split about 10 inches up from the base.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/19/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1136
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CLEVELAND
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44070
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413105N
Event Location Longitude 0814100W
Event Location Airport BURKE LAKEFRONT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BKL;
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14438
NTSB Notification Source CLEVELAND FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Aug 19 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office CLEVELAND FAA/FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N229ME
NTSB Number IAD03CA071
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17258483
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARKS AIRCRAFT INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City FISHERS
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code UMP
Departure City INDIANAPOLIS
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BKL
Destination City CLEVELAND
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 16 2003 10:23AM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6L
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --