- Date
- December 11, 2010, 18:30 local (Dec 12, 2010, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Corona, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2262YCessna 177
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report May 16, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20101211053589A
- Case key
- 78003
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 hard landing.
Findings · 3
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 first approach for landing the wind affected his alignment to the runway, and he performed a go-around. On the second attempt, the approach seemed normal until the pilot flared the airplane excessively, resulting in a stall and subsequent hard landing. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall and wing.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that on the first approach, the windy conditions affected his alignment to the runway, so he chose to perform a go-around. On the second attempt, the alignment was good, and the approach seemed normal until the flare. The pilot said that he flared the airplane a bit too much. He heard the stall horn sound, and slightly pushed the yoke forward. The airplane dropped fast for the last few feet and the touchdown was hard. He taxied to parking and tied the airplane down. It was dark and he did not expect or notice any damage. The next morning, his instructor called and asked him if he had experienced a hard landing. Examination revealed a buckled firewall, and sheet metal damage on top of the wing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2262Y
- Reported as
- Cessna 177
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17700062
- Airframe hours
- 4,298
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- James Powell
- Registered owner
- James Powell
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 19, 2010
- Departed
- HII · Lake Havasu, AZ
- Destination
- AJO · Corona, CA
- Airport
- AJO · Corona Municipal, runway 07, 3,200 × 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
- 42
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 20, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 119 total · 49 in this make and model · 74 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- KAJO
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 336 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.
Other investigations on N2262Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.