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Hard Landing and Bounce Lead to Runway Excursion and Nose Gear Collapse

Furnace Creek, CA, United States

On December 10, 2011, a GRUMMAN AA5 B operated by Donald S Slutzky was involved in an aviation accident near Furnace Creek, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot flared too high, resulting in a hard landing and bounce. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

According to the pilot, flaring too high resulted in a hard landing and bounce. The aircraft exited the runway left side, nosed over after nose landing gear collapse and separation. No preimpact mechanical issues were reported.

Event Description

According to the pilot, the landing was performed with an excessive flare, leading to a hard touchdown. The aircraft then bounced at least once. During the bounce, the pilot briefly added power but decided to abort the attempted go-around. Subsequently, the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed and separated, causing the aircraft to nose over.

Pilot Statement

The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal flight. The pilot attributed the event to the high flare and hard landing.

Conclusion

The accident sequence involved a hard landing, bounce, runway excursion, and nose gear collapse. No other factors were identified from the pilot's account.

Probable cause

The pilot flared too high, resulting in a hard landing and bounce.

Contributing factors

PilotIncorrect use/operationDirectional control — Not attained/maintained

Related events

Same aircraft family

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 10 Dec 2011 GRUMMAN AA5 B accident near Furnace Creek, CA?

According to the pilot, flaring too high resulted in a hard landing and bounce. The aircraft exited the runway left side, nosed over after nose landing gear collapse and separation. No preimpact mechanical issues were reported.

Were there any fatalities in the 10 Dec 2011 GRUMMAN AA5 B accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 10 Dec 2011 involved a GRUMMAN AA5 B, operated by Donald S Slutzky, at Furnace Creek, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot flared too high, resulting in a hard landing and bounce.

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