- Date
- July 27, 2009, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Towanda, PA
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2980XCessna 177
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 29, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/ FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090727048239A
- Case key
- 74391
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during a go around following a bounced landing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, the airplane was slightly high on the final approach for landing on the 4,300-foot long by 75-foot wide runway. He retained a slight amount of power for the flare, but the airplane impacted the runway and bounced. The pilot decided to go around after an additional bounce, and he applied full power and retracted the flaps incrementally from full flaps to 30 degrees, then to 15 degrees, and finally to 0 degrees. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck a sign, a taxiway light and a runway edge light approximately 2,300 feet beyond the approach threshold. It descended an embankment located approximately 65 feet from the runway centerline and impacted rocks. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane noted damage to the firewall and the left wing. The pilot told the inspector that the airplane functioned normally, with no mechanical problems.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, the airplane was slightly high on the final approach for landing on the 4,300-foot long by 75-foot wide runway. He retained a slight amount of power for the flare, but the airplane impacted the runway and bounced. The pilot decided to go around after an additional bounce, and he applied full power and retracted the flaps incrementally from full flaps to 30 degrees, then to 15 degrees, and finally to 0 degrees. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck a sign, a taxiway light and a runway edge light approximately 2,300 feet beyond the approach threshold. It descended an embankment located approximately 65 feet from the runway centerline and impacted rocks. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane noted damage to the firewall and the left wing. The pilot told the inspector that the airplane functioned normally, with no mechanical problems.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2980X
- Reported as
- Cessna 177
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17700380
- Airframe hours
- 5,689
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Paul E. Dion
- Registered owner
- Paul E. Dion
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 9, 2008 · 70 hours before
- Departed
- BAF · Westfield, MA
- Destination
- N27 · Towanda, PA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- N27 · Bradford County Airport, runway 23, 4,300 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 10, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 350 total · 65 in this make and model
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,200 total · 1,100 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 7 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.93 inHg
- Observed at
- KELM, 32 nm away
Docket · 7
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2980X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.