What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Upon return to fci, pilot reported scattered rain showers, including rain shaft moved over fci but moved to the east, and was otherwise calm with no turbulence.
Pilot said he flew normal final approach and flared. He said the plane abruptly nosed up briefly, then dropped to the runway and bounced back up. He went around. He said the rudder control was difficult and the plane wanted to steer to the right (which is explained by bent torque tubes from impact). He made a second landing attempt, but noted that a crosswind blew the plane well off runway centerline while in the flare. He executed a second go-around. During his third attempt, he was able to land normally.
METAR recorded 5 min after landing showed 10SM visibility with thunderstorms and rain. Ceiling was greater than 3000’. The remarks were lightning distant north through southeast, and rain began at 14:37 EDT. Crucially, the wind was not reported all day.
As the FAA filed it
UPON RETURN TO FCI, PILOT REPORTED SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS, INCLUDING RAIN SHAFT MOVED OVER FCI BUT MOVED TO THE EAST, AND WAS OTHERWISE CALM WITH NO TURBULENCE.
PILOT SAID HE FLEW NORMAL FINAL APPROACH AND FLARED. HE SAID THE PLANE ABRUPTLY NOSED UP BRIEFLY, THEN DROPPED TO THE RUNWAY AND BOUNCED BACK UP. HE WENT AROUND. HE SAID THE RUDDER CONTROL WAS DIFFICULT AND THE PLANE WANTED TO STEER TO THE RIGHT (WHICH IS EXPLAINED BY BENT TORQUE TUBES FROM IMPACT). HE MADE A SECOND LANDING ATTEMPT, BUT NOTED THAT A CROSSWIND BLEW THE PLANE WELL OFF RUNWAY CENTERLINE WHILE IN THE FLARE. HE EXECUTED A SECOND GO-AROUND. DURING HIS THIRD ATTEMPT, HE WAS ABLE TO LAND NORMALLY.
METAR RECORDED 5 MIN AFTER LANDING SHOWED 10SM VISIBILITY WITH THUNDERSTORMS AND RAIN. CEILING WAS GREATER THAN 3000’. THE REMARKS WERE LIGHTNING DISTANT NORTH THROUGH SOUTHEAST, AND RAIN BEGAN AT 14:37 EDT. CRUCIALLY, THE WIND WAS NOT REPORTED ALL DAY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.