# NTSB SEA96LA101: Cessna 177, N177JM, Corvallis, OR, May 27, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 1996, 17:15 local (May 27, 1996, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Corvallis, OR - Coordinates: 44.459774, -123.339126 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4598&lon=-123.3391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42373 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42373/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA101 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to properly judge the distance and altitude to the runway just before touching down, and his premature flare for landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the presence of sun glare during the landing, and the resultant degradation of the pilot's visual perception. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flare - premature, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot stated that while he was on 'short final' for runway 27 at the Corvallis Municipal Airport, the sun 'came from behind a cloud with some glare and visibility problems....' He stated that he 'could not tell [the airplane's] height [above the runway] accurately.' He stated that he began to flare for landing after he 'judged that the dark pavement was just below.' The airplane landed hard on the main landing gear and porpoised forward onto the nose gear. The nose gear collapsed and the firewall was substantially damaged. No preimpact mechanical deficiency was reported. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 1996, about 1715 Pacific daylight time, N177JM, a Cessna 177, operated by the owner/pilot, landed hard in Corvallis, Oregon, and was substantially damaged. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot stated that while he was on "short final" for runway 27 at the Corvallis Municipal Airport, the sun "came from behind a cloud with some glare and visibility problems...." He stated that he "could not tell [the airplane's] height [above the runway] accurately." He stated that he began to flare for landing after he "judged that the dark pavement was just below." The airplane landed hard on the main landing gear and porpoised forward onto the nose gear. The nose gear collapsed and the firewall was substantially damaged. No preimpact mechanical deficiencies were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N177JM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N177JM), registered now, S/N 17701307, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177 - 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: 17701307 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A2F 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hartman, Thomas B. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: CVO - Airport: CVO, Corvallis Municipal, runway 27, 3,769 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 731 total, 439 in this make and model, 689 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CVO ## 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 19960526019969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960526019969A), May 26, 1996: Cessna 177A, Corvallis, OR, Substantial damage. Failed to timely flare for landing bounced. Came down hard on nose. Collapsed nose gear. Blamed blinded by sun. ## Other investigations on N177JM (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 SEA76DYG08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76DYG08), Aug 11, 1975: Cessna 177 (N177JM), Quincy, WA, destroyed 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.