| Crash location | 28.000278°N, 82.164167°W |
| Nearest city | Plant City, FL
28.018632°N, 82.112864°W 3.4 miles away |
| Tail number | N76494 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 27 May 2003 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 120 |
| Additional details: | None |
On May 27, 2003, about 1215 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 120, N76494, registered to a private individual, nosed over during the landing roll at Plant City Municipal Airport, Plant City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated about 1110, from Plant City Municipal Airport.
The pilot stated that after takeoff, the flight proceeded to the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport where he landed uneventfully, secured the airplane, and purchased fuel. The flight departed approximately 1200 to return, and entered the traffic pattern for runway 28, with a wind from 340 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 12 knots. While on final approach he slipped the airplane to lose altitude, and touched down 600-700 feet down the runway at 42 to 44 knots. The airplane became airborne, the right wing raised, and the airplane drifted to the left. He applied right aileron and left rudder input to maintain runway centerline, added slight power, and released slight amount of back pressure on the yoke. The airplane touched down again on the main landing gears about 400 feet beyond the first touchdown point and rolled approximately 50-100 feet at which time the airplane nosed over. He further stated there was no problem with the brakes or flight controls of the airplane.
The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane resulting in it nosing over during the landing roll.