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Atlas / NTSB / CHI97LA250

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event CHI97LA250

1997-08-06 KEOKUK, Iowa, United States Airport · EOK None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N13353

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 172M

Year of manufacture

1973 · 24 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19731128

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A08979

Registrant of record

IRWIN KENNETH F

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a porpoise, failure (collapse) of the nose gear, and a subsequent nose over.

Factual narrative

On August 6, 1997 at 1725 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 172M, N13353, sustained substantial damage after nosing over, during a landing roll at the Keokuk Municipal Airport, Keokuk, Iowa. The student pilot reported no injuries. The 14 Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Ottumwa, Iowa at 1639 cdt, for a student solo cross country flight. In a written statement, the pilot reported that on final approach to Runway 03 at the Keokuk Municipal Airport he was high on the glide slope so he increased the flap setting to 40 degrees. The pilot stated that he flew past the numbers and fixed distance marker, then initiated a flare. The pilot reported, "Flared high, banged hard on the two main wheels. Bounced up and came down again. Bounced about 5 more times." On the fifth bounce the nose gear broke off. The pilot reported that the airplane veered off the prepared runway surface, crossed a taxiway, into a grass section between the taxiway and Runway 08. Upon reaching the grass section, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot exited the aircraft, uninjured, and waited for assistance. The pilot reported that on final approach to the runway, the airplane was high on the glide slope, so he increased the flap setting to 40 degrees. He stated that he flew past the numbers and fixed distance marker, then initiated a flare. Also, the pilot reported, 'Flared high, banged hard on the two main wheels. Bounced up and came down again. Bounced about 5 more times.' On the fifth bounce the nose gear broke off. The pilot reported that the airplane veered off the prepared runway surface, crossed a taxiway, into a grass section between the taxiway and runway 8. After reaching the grass section, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1997_CHI97LA250.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.