On August 27, 1999, a Cessna 177 (registration N3327T) operated by Byron Smith was involved in an aviation accident near Carson City, NV. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's use of an excessive approach reference airspeed, his misjudged landing flare, and subsequent hard landing/porpoise. A contributing factor was the airplane's excessive approach airspeed. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
After a biennial flight review, a pilot took off alone and flew for 15 minutes. During final approach, he encountered turbulence, had excessive airspeed, and made a hard nose-low landing, followed by porpoising on the 5,900-foot runway.
Event Details
A pilot completed a biennial flight review during which landings were practiced. After the flight instructor exited the airplane, the pilot took off. He flew for approximately 15 minutes before returning to the airport.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that upon approaching the airport, he extended the wing flaps to the 10-degree setting. On the final approach leg, he encountered a small amount of turbulence. The pilot stated that the airplane's airspeed was excessive.
Landing Sequence
The airplane touched down hard in a nose-low attitude. Following the initial touchdown, the airplane porpoised several times before coming to rest on the 5,900-foot-long runway.