Melbourne International Airpt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Melbourne, Florida 32901
Tuesady, October 21, 2003 12:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private-rated pilot was on final approach for runway 4, and flared too high with full flaps. The airplane touched down and bounced two to three times, the last bounce was around 25 to 35 feet high. The pilot applied full throttle, switched carburetor heat off and hit the flap switch to retract 1 notch of flaps. The airplane pitched nose down and impacted the runway; ground scars on the north edge of the runway associated with the propeller blades were noted. Damage to the fuselage and propeller was noted; one of the propeller blades was bent forward. Post accident, the pilot noticed the flaps were fully retracted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Inadvertent full retraction of the flaps, while recovering from a bounced landing, resulting in an inadvertent stall, uncontrolled descent, and subsequent impact with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/21/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Melbourne
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32901
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 280610N
Event Location Longitude 0803843W
Event Location Airport Melbourne International Airpt
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KMLB
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MLB
Elevation of weather observation facility 33
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
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) 14741
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 5 2004 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N734JT
NTSB Number MIA04CA009
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 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17268896
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 May 16 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 213
Airframe Hours 7294.3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Indian River Flying Club
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Palm Bay
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Indian River Flying Club
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Palm Bay
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KTIX
Departure City Titusville
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1210
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KMLB
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 20 2003 2:12PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4
Runway Length 3001
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --