# NTSB DEN05LA064: Cessna 177B, N30874, Rock Springs, WY, March 19, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 2005, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Rock Springs, WY - Coordinates: 41.59037, -109.219772 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5904&lon=-109.2198&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61181 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61181/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA064 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - runway light ## Analysis According to the pilot, AWOS reported that the winds were 240 degrees at 12 knots. He stated that he was set up on final approach for runway 27, and his airspeed was 75 mph. While in the flare, the airplane "ballooned" approximately 6 to 8 feet, and then it "stalled" and bounced hard on the runway about 1,700 feet from the approach end. When he increased the engine throttle to "full power," the airplane's nose dropped and it landed a second time, striking the propeller and nose landing gear. The airplane departed the left side of the runway about 2,000 feet down and struck a runway light with its right horizontal stabilator. The pilot stated that he brought the airplane back on the runway about 2,400 feet down and then taxied it to the hanger. The airplane's firewall was buckled and the right stabilator was displaced aft and its leading edge was crushed. ## Factual narrative On March 19, 2005, approximately 1015 mountain standard time, a Cessna 177B, N30874, operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport (RKS), Rock Springs, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated at 0830. According to the pilot, the automatic weather observing/reporting system (AWOS), reported that the winds were 240 degrees at 12 knots. He stated that he was set up on final approach for runway 27 (10,000 x 150 feet), and his airspeed was 75 mph. While in the flare, the airplane "ballooned" approximately 6 to 8 feet, and then it "stalled" and bounced hard on the runway about 1,700 feet from the approach end. When he increased the engine throttle to "full power," the airplane's nose dropped and it landed a second time, striking the propeller and nose landing gear. The airplane departed the left side of the runway about 2,000 feet and struck a runway light with its right horizontal stabilator. The pilot stated that he brought the airplane back on the runway about 2,400 feet and then taxied it to the hanger. The airplane's firewall was buckled, the right stabilator was displaced aft, and its leading edge was crushed. At 0954, the reported weather conditions at Rock Springs, elevation 6,760 feet msl was, wind, 260 degrees at 7 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, overcast at 9,000 feet; temperature, 5 degrees C.; dew point, minus 8 degrees C.; altimeter setting, 29.82. The calculated density altitude was 7,256 feet msl. At 1054, the reported weather conditions at Rock Springs was, wind, 280 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 20 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, broken at 9,000 feet; temperature, 7 degrees C.; dew point, minus 7 degrees C.; altimeter setting, 29.82. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), submitted by the pilot, he had accumulated a total of 165.2 flight hours in all aircraft, of which a total of 23.2 hours was in make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30874](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N30874), registered now, S/N 17701520, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177B - Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17701520 - Airframe hours: 4362.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1F6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vincent Proctor - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2004, 37.9 hours before - Departed: RKS, Rock Springs, WY - Destination: RKS, Rock Springs, WY - Airport: RKS, Rock Springs-Sweetwater County, runway 27, 10,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 18, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 165 total, 23 in this make and model, 109 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 90 ft overcast - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KRKS ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050319003529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050319003529A), Mar 19, 2005: Cessna 177B, Rock Springs, WY, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing the aircraft touched down and then "ballooned" into the air. The pilot added engine power, however, the aircraft landed a second time,… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.