CEN11LA372

The pilot reported that the airplane bounced after a hard landing. He attempted to regain control of the airplane, but it veered off the left side of the runway. The airplane came to rest on an embankment, and a postimpact ground fire ensued. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

On June 5, 2011, at 1910 eastern daylight time, a Mooney model M20J airplane, N1146B, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Akron-Canton Regional Airport (KCAK), North Canton, Ohio. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated on an instrument flight plan. The personal flight departed from Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (KAZO), Kalamazoo, Michigan, at 1750. The pilot reported that the straight-in visual approach to runway 5 (8,205 feet by 150 feet, asphalt) was uneventful until the airplane bounced after a hard landing. He attempted to regain control of the airplane, but it veered off the left side of the runway. The airplane came to rest on an embankment and a postimpact ground fire ensued. The fuselage, firewall, and both wings were substantially damaged during the event. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. At 1851, the airport's automated surface observing system reported the following weather conditions: wind 360 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 6 miles with haze; few clouds at 6,000 feet above ground level (agl), scattered clouds at 8,000 feet agl, and a broken ceiling at 22,000 feet agl; temperature 27 degrees Celsius; dew point 12 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.05 inches of mercury.