- Date
- September 2, 2009, 08:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- La Grande, OR
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N14786Bellanca 17-30A
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090902015819A
- Case key
- 74715
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during the approach to landing, he "…flared too high" and the airplane landed hard, bounced, and "…got away from me [him]." Despite his control inputs, the airplane exited the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the nosewheel landing gear and right main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane's flight control systems prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported during the approach to landing, he "…flared too high" and the airplane landed hard, bounced, and "…got away from me [him]." Despite his control inputs, the airplane exited the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the nose wheel landing gear and right main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane's flight control systems prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N14786
- Reported as
- Bellanca 17-30A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 74-30651
- Airframe hours
- 2,163
- Engine
- Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 2009
- Departed
- S33 · Madras, OR
- Destination
- LGD · La Grande, OR
- Airport
- LGD · La Grande Airport, runway 16, 3,876 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 78
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 18, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,767 total · 1,435 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- LGD
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 13, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 408 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.