On April 18, 2006, a Cessna 177B (registration N34405) was involved in an aviation accident near Cleveland, OH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain proper control during the landing, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent hard impact with the runway surface. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A light aircraft sustained structural damage to the firewall and forward fuselage following a hard landing after a bounce during routine takeoff and landing practice.
What happened
The aircraft sustained significant damage during a landing event while the pilot was conducting practice maneuvers. According to the pilot's account, he was performing repeated takeoffs and landings at the time of the incident. During the third landing attempt, the airplane bounced upon initial contact with the runway surface. When the aircraft descended back onto the pavement, it impacted the ground with excessive force. This hard impact resulted in a flat tire on the nose wheel.
The investigation
A physical examination of the aircraft revealed that the structural damage extended beyond the landing gear. Investigators found that the firewall and the forward section of the fuselage had sustained damage as a result of the impact.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain proper control during the landing, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent hard impact with the runway surface.