Event CHI03LA166

Factual narrative

On May 26, 2003, at 2000 central daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N1730F, operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged while landing on runway 13 (4,100 feet x 75 feet, concrete) at Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (CBF), Council Bluffs, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Jackson Municipal Airport (MJQ), Jackson, Minnesota, approximately 1815. In his written statement, the pilot reported: "After a direct VFR flight to Council Bluffs (CBF) I landed the airplane. When the nose wheel touched down I heard a noise and felt vibration, I brought the aircraft to a complete stop and turned off the active runway, I exited the aircraft and observed the damage to the nosewheel, [propeller] blade and cowling." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector observed the aircraft under repair at CBF. When questioned, the shop foreman stated that the damage to the aircraft occurred as a result of the aircraft going off the runway during landing. The inspector reported that he contacted the pilot and was told that the aircraft went a short distance off the runway during landing. The pilot stated that he thought the nose tire blew out. The pilot reported that there had been no damage to the runway or runway lights. Examination of the aircraft revealed the nose wheel, cowling and firewall had been damaged. The propeller had been removed and was reportedly damaged beyond repairable limits. Wrinkling in the firewall extended from the lower outboard corner to the center of the panel, above the nose landing gear strut attachment point. The nose wheel steering linkage was intact. The pilot reported no malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident. Winds reported by the CBF Automated Weather Observing System, at 1955, were calm. The aircraft sustained substantial damaged during a hard landing. The pilot subsequently lost control and the aircraft departed the runway surface. The firewall exhibited wrinkling consistent with a vertical impact to the nose landing gear. The propeller was reportedly damaged beyond repairable limits. The nose wheel steering linkage was intact. The pilot reported no malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident. Calm winds were reported at the airport five minutes before the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12