NTSB Factual Report

On October 21, 2003, about 1245 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N734JT, registered to and operated by Indian River Flying Club, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a hard landing on runway 4, at Melbourne International Airport, Melbourne, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and private-rated passenger both reported no injuries. The flight originated from Space Coast Regional Airport, Titusville, Florida, the same day at 1210.

According to the FAA inspector at the scene, the firewall was damaged, the fuselage was creased near the left baggage door, and both propeller blades were damaged. One blade was bent forward and the other is missing 3 inches of length.

The airport maintenance officer found the tip of one of the propeller blades about 50 feet west of where the airplane came to rest. Several ground scars associated with the propeller blades were found on the north edge of runway 4.

The pilot stated that on final approach for runway 4 with full flaps, he crossed the threshold with an indicated airspeed between 68 and 70 knots. He flared, stating that he may have been "a little bit too high, but not all that bad." The airplane touched down and bounced two to three times, becoming airborne to a height of approximately 25 to 35 feet following the last bounce. He applied full power, hit the flap switch to retract 1 notch of flaps, and turned off the carburetor heat. The pilot reported the airplane then "nosed over" and touched down "very hard." The propeller hit the ground and the airplane went of the left side of the runway. After the airplane came to rest the pilot and passenger noted that the flaps were fully retracted.

NTSB Probable Cause

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