Mobile Downtown Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mobile, Alabama 36605
Tuesady, December 13, 2005 9:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot stated, that an approach was made to runway 32 at the Mobile Downtown Airport, Mobile, Alabama (BFM). The student pilot flared the airplane causing it to balloon, and then allowed the airplane to sink down. The student pilot flared it again, and the stall warning horn went off momentarily. The student pilot eased the elevator slightly forward and the airplane landed roughly. According to the student pilot the airplane landed with more weight on the right wheel than on the left. The airplane slowed down and the student pilot pulled back on the yoke to further slow the airplane down. At this point the student pilot noticed roughness with the flight controls. The student pilot taxied to the downtown air center, and parked the airplane. According to the student pilot there were no problems with the flight controls, and no problems with the airplane during the pre-flight inspection. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the flight surfaces were intact. The center section of the airframe, and firewall were buckled. Examination of the propeller revealed it was bent aft.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/13/2005
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Mobile
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36605
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 303736N
Event Location Longitude 0880403W
Event Location Airport Mobile Downtown Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KBFM
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 26
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BFM
Elevation of weather observation facility 23
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) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 19308
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 28 2006 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham FSDO-09

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N348SP
NTSB Number ATL06CA025
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172S
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17258273
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Nov 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 91
Airframe Hours 892
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Flight Training of Mobile
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2241 Michigan Ave
Aircraft Owner City Mobile
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36615
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BFM
Departure City Mobile
Departure State AL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 815
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BFM
Destination City Mobile
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 13 2006 1:47PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 9618
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --