# NTSB SEA02LA147: Cessna 177B, N34633, Elma, WA, August 1, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2002, 20:00 local (Aug 1, 2002, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Elma, WA - Coordinates: 46.988334, -123.433891 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9883&lon=-123.4339&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Renton FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55397 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55397/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55397 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA147 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a bounced landing and recovery resulting in the aircraft's departing the runway. Contributing factors were the high brush/vegetation the aircraft rolled into and the pilot's reduced visual acquisition of the runway environment due to the aircraft's nose high attitude. ## Analysis The pilot of the Cessna 177B executed an approach to the 2,275 foot long, 30 foot wide asphalt runway but was a little high and long on final. The aircraft bounced on touchdown and the pilot applied power to arrest the descent. He then lost sight of the runway environment due to a nose high attitude. The aircraft then rolled into an area of heavy blackberry brush and scotch broom north of the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical difficulties with the aircraft during the event. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2002, approximately 2000 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177B, N34633, registered to Lazy Eight Flying Club, Inc., and being operated/flown by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a loss of control on landing at Elma, Washington. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14 CFR 91, and was returning from a dinner stopover at Hoquiam, Washington, after departing Elma earlier in the evening. The pilot reported that his approach to runway 25 (2,275 in length) was a little high and long and that he bounced on touchdown. He applied power to arrest the descent and then lost sight of the runway environment because the nose "was a little high." When the pilot lowered the nose back down to a lower attitude the aircraft was already diverging off the north side of the 30-foot wide asphalt runway. The aircraft then rolled into an area of heavy blackberry brush and scotch broom north of the runway. The pilot reported that there was no power plant or control problem during the event (refer to attached NTSB Form 6120.1/2). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N34633](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34633-2021-07-27), registration cancelled 2021-07-27, S/N 17701913, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177B - Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (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: 17701913 - Airframe hours: 3904 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Taylor, Robert E. - Registered owner: Lazy Eight Flying Club, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 2002, 75 hours before - Departed: HQM, Hoquiam, WA - Destination: 4W8, Elma, WA - Airport: 4W8, Elma Municipal, runway 25, 2,275 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 20, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 349 total, 125 in this make and model, 264 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: OLM, 22 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 20020731023079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020731023079A), Jul 31, 2002: Cessna 177B, Elma, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) During a landing attempt at Elma airport, the 300 hour private pilot misjudged the height of his approach. He landed long on the 2,275 foot runway and… ## Other investigations on N34633 (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 WPR21FA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA045), Nov 11, 2020: Cessna 177 (N34633), Langley, WA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control while attempting to conduct an emergency landing. Contributing to the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 10, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55397. 394 KB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465446&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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. --- 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.