NTSB Factual Report

On August 2, 2001, about 1130 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N7006A, landed hard at Mobile Regional Airport in Mobile, Alabama. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose wheel assembly and firewall, and the private pilot and private-rated safety pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Mobile Downtown Airport in Mobile , Alabama, at 1100.

The pilot was flying the airplane from the right seat and was practicing ILS approaches on runway 14; the safety pilot occupied the left seat. The pilot had executed one practice approach and was three miles from the airport on the second approach when the tower requested that the airplane maintain its speed. The pilot reported this speed to be 120 mph. The pilot requested and was granted a touch-and-go, and the pilot elected to perform the maneuver without flaps. The pilot stated, "As I was slowing the aircraft for landing and descending to the runway, I began porpoising, possibly from a gust. From that point forward, I am unclear as to what happened, except that my plane hit with a thud."

The post-accident examination of the airplane disclosed that the nose gear assembly and the engine firewall had sustained structural damage. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane. The examination of the airplane also failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. The pilot reported that the prevailing winds were 180 degrees at 7-14 knots. Runway 14 was the landing runway.

Review of the Mobile Regional Airport automated surface observation system 1056 central daylight time and 1156 central daylight time observations showed no wind gusts at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in a hard landing. A factor was the pilot induced porpoise.