# Accident 19970419006349A: Cessna 177, Rantoul, IL, April 19, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 19, 1997, 13:10 local time
- Place: Rantoul, IL
- Airport: National Aviation Center Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.2991° N, 88.1508° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2991&lon=-88.1508&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3489T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3489T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 177 (registry code 2073704, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 91 total, 91 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA111) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970419006349A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLARED HIGH. DROPPED TO RUNWAY. BOUNCED. PORPOISED. COLLAPSED NOSE GEAR BENT FUSELAGE. (-23) THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM PLYMOUTH, INDIANA, TO RANTOUL, ILLINOIS.  WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 27 AT RANTOUL, ILLINOIS, THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE RUNWAY HARD ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR, THEN BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR AND RETURNED TO THE RUNWAY NOSE WHEEL FIRST.  DAMAGE INCLUDED A BENT FIREWALL AND TWISTED FUSELAGE FROM THE FIREWALL TO THE LEFT DOOR POST.  THE NOSE WHEEL TIRE WAS RUPTURED AND THE ENGINE COWLING WAS TWISTED TO THE LEFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA111), Apr 19, 1997: Cessna 177 (N3489T), Rantoul, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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