# NTSB SEA95LA122: Cessna 177B, N19806, Seattle, WA, June 16, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 16, 1995, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Seattle, WA
- Coordinates: 47.440624, -122.280204 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4406&lon=-122.2802&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42168
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA122
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42168/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA122

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED PORPOISING AFTER LANDING ON THE NOSEWHEEL.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE KEPT HIS SPEED UP DURING APPROACH.  HE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE NOSE WHEEL, BOUNCED, SETTLED, LANDED ON THE NOSE WHEEL AGAIN, AND THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED REPEATEDLY, EVENTUALLY CAUSING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.  HE STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE ADDED POWER AND PULLED THE NOSE UP.

## Factual narrative

On June 16, 1995, about 1315 Pacific daylight time, N19806, a Cessna 177B, operated by the Big M Flying Club, Inc., Aberdeen, Washington, was substantially damaged when it porpoised during  landing at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington.  The private pilot and his passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed.  The personal flight departed from Hoquiam, Washington, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

According to an FAA aviation safety inspector from Renton, Washington, the pilot stated that he was "keeping his speed up" during approach to runway 16L because of transport airplanes behind him.  The airplane's airspeed was "130 knots about one mile from the runway."  The pilot stated that he touched down on the nose wheel, settled, landed on the nose wheel again, and the aircraft porpoised repeatedly.  The nose gear tire failed and the firewall was buckled.  No pre-impact mechanical malfunctions were reported.  The pilot observed that he should have added power and pulled the nose up to recover from the porpoise.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N19806](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N19806), registered now, S/N 17702600, built 1976 (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: 17702600
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Big M Flying Club, Inc.
- Registered owner: Big M Flying Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 1995, 32 hours before
- Departed: HQM, HOQUIAM, WA
- Destination: SEA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SEA, Seattle-Tacoma Intn'L, runway 16L, 11,900 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 264 total, 144 in this make and model, 175 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19950616040129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950616040129A), Jun 16, 1995: Cessna 177B, Seattle, WA, Substantial damage. High speed approach and landing. Due jet traffic to rear. Bounced porpoised blew nose tire. Bent fire wall.

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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