NYC96LA093

The pilot had completed a cross country flight and was landing on runway 31. When the pilot flared, the airplane drifted to the left. During the pilot's attempt to realign the airplane with the runway, the airplane bounced and veered left off of the runway. Winds reported by the airport automatic weather observing/reporting system (AWOS) at the time of the accident were from 300 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot had logged 7 hours in this make and model, of which 5 hours were as pilot-in-command. The balance of his flight experience was in the Cessna 152. The pilot had flown 2-1/2 hours in the previous 90 days.

On April 28, 1996, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N98574, was substantially damaged during landing at the Rutland State Airport, Rutland, Vermont. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Schenectady, New York, about 0930. A VFR flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he was landing at the Rutland State Airport (RUT) at the completion of a cross country flight. He stated that on final to runway 31, the airplane drifted to the left during the flare. He further stated:

"...Attempted to reestablish alignment with runway and aircraft touched down and bounced. Aircraft touched down and veered sharply to the left and stopped in the sod near runway intersection...Wind sock indicated right quartering headwind from approximately 340 degrees..."

In the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's report, he stated the pilot informed him that the wind gusts and turbulence caused the pilot to flare high. The airplane then stalled, hitting the runway on the nose wheel. The pilot did not attribute the accident to any mechanical malfunction.

Winds reported by the Rutland AWOS at the time of the accident were from 300 degrees at 4 knots.

The pilot's total flight experience was 99 hours, of which 36 hours were as a pilot-in-command. He had logged a total of 7 hours in this make and model, of which 5 hours were as pilot-in-command. The balance of his flight experience was in the Cessna 152. The pilot had flown 2 1/2 hours in the previous 90 days.