No fatalities

2 Sep 2009: BELLANCA 17-30A — La Grande, OR

La Grande, OR, United States

On 2 Sep 2009, a BELLANCA 17-30A was involved in an aviation accident near La Grande, OR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During approach, the pilot flared too high, resulting in a hard landing and bounce. The airplane exited the runway, collapsing the nose and right main landing gear, with substantial right wing damage.

Accident Overview

A pilot reported that during the approach to landing, he flared too high. The airplane subsequently landed hard, bounced, and then "got away from me [him]." Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane exited the left side of the runway. Following the runway excursion, the nose wheel landing gear and right main landing gear collapsed.

Examination Findings

An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane's flight control systems prior to the accident.

Pilot Statement

The pilot's account indicates that the accident sequence began with an excessively high flare during the landing approach, leading to a hard touchdown and subsequent bounce. After the bounce, the pilot lost control of the airplane, which veered off the runway to the left. The collapse of the landing gear occurred after the airplane left the runway surface.

Contributing factors

Incorrect use/operationPilot