SEA97LA054

The pilot reported that during a landing attempt with crosswinds gusting to 16 knots, he descended steeply from above the proper glide path, and that over the end of the runway the winds 'stopped gusting.' He stated that his touchdown was 'kind of hard', misaligned, and with excessive speed. He initiated a go-around, remained in the pattern, and performed a second, uneventful landing. The airplane did not initially appear damaged to him, but a subsequent airframe inspection by a mechanic revealed substantial structural damage.

On December 15, 1996, between 1100 and 1200 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 182L, N42694, was substantially damaged in a hard landing at Pearson Field, Vancouver, Washington. The private pilot, its sole occupant, was not injured. According to the pilot, the 14 CFR 91 flight had departed Pearson Field with an ultimate destination of Scappoose, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and the pilot reported that a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed.

The pilot reported that he was attempting to land on Pearson Field's runway 8, which is 3,275 feet long and 60 feet wide. He stated that a wind from the south, gusting to 16 knots, existed for the landing. He reported that on final, he was above the glide path, and was high at 500 feet above the runway. He stated that he continued a steep descent with full flaps to the touchdown zone, and that "over the end of the runway the wind stopped gusting." He reported that his landing was "kind of hard", and that the plane touched down left of centerline, angled to the right, and "too fast to apply brakes or correct to the centerline or to continue the landing." He therefore initiated a go-around, remaining in the pattern and performing a second, uneventful landing with flaps one-third down. The pilot stated that he did not initially think he had damaged the aircraft; however, a subsequent airframe inspection by a mechanic revealed a buckled firewall and other structural damage.