Accident Details
On December 26, 2011, at approximately 1400 central standard time, a Cessna 182J, registration N2618F, experienced a hard landing on runway 14 at St. Paul Downtown Airport (STP) in St. Paul, Minnesota. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the Mentone Flying Club under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Flight Sequence
The flight departed from Rice Lake Regional Airport (RPD) in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, and was en route to STP. The pilot made two visual approaches to runway 27 at STP. During the first approach, he executed a planned go-around. On the second approach, a gust of wind caused the airplane to drift during the landing flare, prompting another go-around.
The pilot then decided to change runways and elected to land on runway 14, despite being informed by the STP air traffic controller that the wind was from 230 degrees. The pilot reported that he continued the visual approach and was on glideslope, airspeed, and centered on the runway as he approached the landing zone. During the landing flare, he encountered a “big” gust of wind, resulting in a hard landing on the nose on the runway centerline approximately 500 to 1000 feet from the runway threshold.
Postaccident Findings
A postaccident inspection revealed that the airplane’s firewall was bent. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane.
Weather Conditions
At 1405, the surface weather observation at STP recorded wind from 240 degrees at 19 knots, gusting to 26 knots; visibility 10 miles; clear sky; temperature 11 degrees Celsius; dew point -6 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.71 inches of mercury.