# NTSB LAX04CA136: Cessna 177A, N30599, Honolulu, HI, February 16, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 15, 2004, 21:00 local (Feb 16, 2004, 07:00 UTC) - Place: Honolulu, HI - Coordinates: 21.318611, -157.922225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3186&lon=-157.9222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58823 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58823/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA136 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and porpoising down the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane made a hard landing while attempting to execute an instrument landing system (ILS) approach. The pilot said that during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a gust of wind from the left side. The airplane went into a nose-low attitude, hit the runway surface hard, and porpoised. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for Honolulu International Airport at 2053, reported steady state winds from 010 degrees at 10 knots and visibility at 10 statute miles. ## Factual narrative On February 15, 2004, about 2100 Hawaiian standard time, a Cessna 177A, N30599, made a hard landing at Honolulu International Airport (PHNL), Honolulu, Hawaii. The airplane was owned and operated by Moore Air, Inc., under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Kahului Airport (PHOG), Kahului, Hawaii, about 1945, with a planned destination of PHNL. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was attempting to execute the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 04R. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a gust of wind from the left side. The airplane went into a nose-low attitude, hit the runway surface hard, and porpoised. The pilot taxied back to parking. The damage to the airplane included the creasing of the airplane skin, a nick in the propeller, and a bend in the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for PHNL at 2053, reported winds from 010 degrees at 10 knots and visibility at 10 statute miles. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30599](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N30599), registered now, S/N 17701351, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177A - Registry model: [Cessna 177A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177a) (registry code 2073706) (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: 17701351 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Moore Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: PHOG, Kahului, HI - Destination: PHNL, Honolulu, HI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PHNL, Honolulu International Airport, runway 04R ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 690 total, 30 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark ## Other investigations on N30599 (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 OAK74FJA10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74FJA10), Dec 14, 1973: Cessna 177A (N30599), Kalapana, HI, substantial damage 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.