# NTSB LAX99LA286: Cessna 177, N3327T, Carson City, NV, August 27, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 1999, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Carson City, NV - Coordinates: 39.140045, -119.710464 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1400&lon=-119.7105&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47234 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA286 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47234/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA286 ## Probable cause The pilot's use of an excessive approach reference airspeed, his misjudged landing flare, and subsequent hard landing/porpoise. A contributing factor was the airplane's excessive approach airspeed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed(vref) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis After completing a biennial flight review during which landings were practiced, the flight instructor exited the airplane and the pilot took off. He flew for about 15 minutes. Upon approaching the airport, he extended the wing flaps to the 10-degree setting. According to the pilot, on the final approach leg he encountered a 'small amount of turbulence.' The airplane's airspeed was excessive, and the airplane touched down hard in a nose low attitude. Thereafter, it porpoised several times before coming to rest on the 5,900-foot-long runway. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 1999, about 1630 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177, N3327T, operated by the pilot, made a hard landing and was substantially damaged at the uncontrolled Carson Airport, Carson City, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, who was the sole airplane occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Minden, Nevada, about 1615. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that earlier during the day he passed a biennial flight review (BFR). Prior to that he had not flown in about 1.5 years. The BFR lasted about 1.1 hours during which he performed two landings with the wing flaps partially extended. After completing the BFR, he flew to the Carson Airport, extended the wing flaps to the 10-degree setting, and landed on 5,900-foot-long runway 27. The pilot further indicated that he approached the runway with excessive airspeed and in a nose low attitude. The pilot stated although there was no crosswind, he did encounter a "small amount of turbulence." The airplane touched down on its nose wheel, bounced, and commenced porpoising. According to the pilot, no mechanical problems were experienced with the airplane during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3327T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3327T), registered now, S/N 17700627 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177 - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700627 - Airframe hours: 2976 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Byron Smith - Registered owner: Tona Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 1999, 58 hours before - Departed: MEV, MINDEN, NV - Destination: CXP - Airport: CXP, Carson Airport, runway 27, 5,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 190 total, 28 in this make and model, 110 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 19 nm away ## 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 19990827025399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990827025399A), Aug 27, 1999: Cessna 177, Carson City, NV, Substantial damage. (.19) On August 27, 1999, about 1630 hours pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177, N3327T, operated by the pilot, made a hard landing and was substantially… 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.