CHI00LA077

The pilot said he flew to an airport and his second of three landings, there, seemed 'hard'. He stated he flew back and landed uneventfully. He was told two days later that the airplane sustained a 'prop-strike.' A witness observed an airplane, traveling about 120 mph, which made a long low approach. The airplane crossed the threshold carrying partial power about 50 feet in the air. Halfway down the runway, the airplane abruptly nosed down. The airplane touched down hard on the nose gear, made a noise like metal rasping, bounced into the air, and came down hard on its nose gear again. The witness stated that after the second bounce, the airplane left the area. The witness said that the airplane was a single engine Cessna, was white with red trim, was larger than a Cessna 172, and its engine sounded bigger than a 172's. The airplane operator stated he noticed the substantial damage during an airplane inspection after that flight and the airplane's colors were maroon and silver over white. The pilot specified 'continued dual instruction in pattern' as his safety recommendation in his statement.

On January 18, 2000, at 1530 central standard time, a Cessna 182J, N3369F, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a touch and go on runway 27 (3,900 feet X 60 feet, dry/asphalt) at Stanley Municipal Airport, near Stanley, North Dakota. The personal flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the flight. The flight originated from Minot International Airport, near Minot, North Dakota, at 1430, and returned to Minot at 1600.

In his written statement, the pilot stated, "Left Minot flew to Stanley, ND to perform touch-and-gos. Second of third landing seemed "hard". Flew back to Minot, ND, uneventful full stop landing." He stated, "Notified 2 days later on preflight evaluation by owner that there was a "prop-strike"."

A witness at Stanley Municipal Airport stated that he observed an airplane make a long low approach to runway 27. He said, "It [the airplane] crossed the threshold carrying partial power about 50 feet in the air and traveling about 120 mph. I didn't think it could be possible to land, but halfway down the runway at an altitude of about 5 feet the pilot abruptly put the nose down. The airplane touched down hard on the nose gear. I heard a noise like metal rasping. The airplane bounced into the air and came down hard on the nose gear again. After bouncing the second time the pilot added power and left the area." The witness said that the airplane was a single engine Cessna, was white with red trim, was larger than a Cessna 172, and its engine sounded "bigger" than a 172's.

The operator of the accident airplane stated that he noticed the substantial damage during an inspection of the airplane on January 20, 1999 and that the airplane's colors are maroon and silver over white.

The pilot's stated safety recommendation was "continued dual instruction in pattern."