# Accident 19971218039739A: Cessna 177, Thompson Falls, MT, December 18, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 18, 1997, 10:30 local time
- Place: Thompson Falls, MT
- Airport: Thompson Falls Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.5602° N, 115.4392° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5602&lon=-115.4392&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2988X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2988X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 177 (registry code 2073704, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1F6
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 21 total, 21 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA025) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971218039739A

## Narrative

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

LEVELED OFF TOO HIGH. DROPPED TO RUNWAY. BOUNCED AND PORPOISED. WRINKLED FUSELAGE NEAR FIREWALL. (.4)THE STUDENT PILOT, ON HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT, ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO TOUCH DOWN ON ALL THREE WHEELS SIMULTANEOUSLY, DURING WHICH A PORPOISE DEVELOPED. FOUR ADDITIONAL NOSE-DOWN GROUND IMPACT CYCLES FOLLOWED BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP. THE PILOT DID NOT ATTEMPT A GO-AROUND MANEUVER.      (-23)THE PIC, A STUDENT PILOT, WAS ON HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT.  THE PIC STATED THAT, ON SHORT FINAL, A WIND SHEAR OCCURRED, FROM CALM TO A LEFT CROSSWIND.  HE STATED THAT HE STRAIGHTENED OUT THE AIRCRAFT BUT IT DROPPED INTO THE RUNWAY FORM FEET 3 AGL.  THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON ALL THREE GEARS AND PORPOISED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE PROP STRIKING THE RUNWAY.  AN INSPECTION SHOWED FIREWALL DAMAGE AND FUSELAGE WRINKLES AFT OF THE FIREWALL.

## 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 SEA98LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA025), Dec 18, 1997: Cessna 177 (N2988X), Thompson Falls, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper remedial action when confronted with a porpoised landing. A factor was his failure to execute a go-around maneuver.

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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