- Date
- April 1, 2011, 18:56 local (22:56 UTC)
- Place
- Columbia, SC
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- C-FFIPCessna 177
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 20, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 78742
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 pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Findings · 3
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, he flew a normal approach, but during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and bounced hard. When it did, he heard a "clunk." The airplane then bounced again before he made a final landing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no pre-existing mechanical anomalies.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, he flew a "normal" approach to runway 29, but during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and bounced "hard." When it did, the pilot heard a "clunk." The airplane then bounced again before the pilot made a final landing. Post-flight examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no pre-existing mechanical anomalies. Winds, recorded at the airport about the time of the accident, were from 270 degrees true at 17, gusting to 20 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- C-FFIP
- Reported as
- Cessna 177
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 0498
- Airframe hours
- 2,534
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Francios Tessier
- Registered owner
- Francios Tessier
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 10, 2010
- Departed
- CWV · Claxton, GA
- Destination
- CAE · Columbia, SC
- Airport
- CAE · Columbia Metropolitan Airport, runway 29, 8,601 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 21, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 298 total · 190 in this make and model · 198 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 17 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.77 inHg
- Observed at
- CAE
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 MB in all.