On February 29, 1992, a Cessna 195A (registration N3451V) operated by Penney, James H. was involved in an aviation accident near San Jose, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot failed to properly compensate for the existing wind conditions and recover from the resulting bounced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Cessna 195A experienced a hard landing, bounced, and nosed over while landing on Runway 30R with a left quartering tail/crosswind. The pilot failed to compensate for wind conditions and recover from the bounced landing.
Accident Details
A Cessna 195A was landing on Runway 30R in wind conditions reported as 190 degrees at 10 knots. This wind direction produced a left quartering tailwind and crosswind component.
Sequence of Events
The pilot executed a landing that resulted in a hard touchdown. The aircraft bounced and then nosed over. According to the pilot, upon touchdown the airplane swerved to the right and the nose pitched downward. The propeller subsequently struck the runway surface. The airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot failed to properly compensate for the existing wind conditions and did not recover from the bounced landing.
Post-Flight Examination
After the accident, an inspection of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear wheel fairing had contacted the tire. The pilot observed scrape marks on both sidewalls of the right main tire and a gouge in the tread from contact with the wheel fairing mud scraper.
Probable cause
The pilot failed to properly compensate for the existing wind conditions and recover from the resulting bounced landing.