Accident Overview
On June 5, 2011, at 1910 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20J airplane, registration N1146B, experienced a hard landing at Akron-Canton Regional Airport (KCAK), North Canton, Ohio. The aircraft was substantially damaged, and the pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 by a private pilot, operating on an instrument flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
Flight History
The personal flight departed from Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (KAZO), Kalamazoo, Michigan, at 1750. The pilot reported that the straight-in visual approach to runway 5 (8,205 feet by 150 feet, asphalt) was uneventful until touchdown, when the airplane bounced after a hard landing. The pilot attempted to regain control, but the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. It came to rest on an embankment, and a post-impact ground fire ensued. The fuselage, firewall, and both wings were substantially damaged.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
Weather Conditions
At 1851, the airport's automated surface observing system reported wind 360 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 6 miles with haze, few clouds at 6,000 feet above ground level (agl), scattered clouds at 8,000 feet agl, a broken ceiling at 22,000 feet agl, temperature 27°C, dew point 12°C, and altimeter setting 30.05 inches of mercury.