# NTSB ERA20CA242: Cessna 177, N29334, Pittsfield, MA, June 29, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 29, 2020, 14:34 local (18:34 UTC)
- Place: Pittsfield, MA
- Coordinates: 42.427501, -73.290832 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4275&lon=-73.2908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA / FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101571
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA242
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101571/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101571
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA242

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

As the pilot approached the destination airport he noted a thunderstorm cell in the vicinity as he entered the airport traffic pattern. During the subsequent landing the airplane, “…hit and porpoised twice.” The pilot further described that as the landing continued, he was losing control, and the airplane was drifting to the left side of the runway, so he initiated a go around and joined the traffic pattern for another landing. The second landing was normal, and he taxied to the ramp. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage structure was substantially damaged during the first landing. Review of the weather conditions that prevailed at the time of the accident indicated that the pilot landed with right quartering crosswind. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further stated that he should have been less rushed to land and should have extended the downwind for landing as he did after the go around, to a safe, less rushed landing and tie down.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N29334](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29334), registered now, S/N 17700820, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 177 (Undesignat)
- Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17700820
- Year built: 1968
- Airframe hours: 4098.5
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 25, 2019, 15 hours before
- Departed: N27, Towanda, PA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: PSF, Pittsfield Muni, runway 26, 5,791 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 18, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 10,248 total, 10 in this make and model, 10,101 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 28.84 inHg
- Observed at: KPSF

## Other investigations on N29334 (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX81DVG16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DVG16), Jan 31, 1981: Cessna 177 (N29334), Napa, CA, substantial damage

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101571. 15.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 10.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11607795&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11608136&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airport manager statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11607990&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airport%20Manager%27s%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports and records - kpsf metars and tafs (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11608146&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20KPSF%20METARs%20and%20TAFs-Rel.pdf
- Security camera video 1 (item 5, MP4, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11608156&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Security%20Camera%20Video%201-Rel.mp4
- Security camera video 2 (item 6, MP4, 925 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11608200&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Security%20Camera%20Video%202-Rel.mp4
- Photo array (item 7, PDF, 11 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11608842&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf

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.

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