N735TF

On November 18, 2000, about 1340 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 182Q, N735TF, was substantially damaged while landing at the Virginia Tech Airport, Blacksburg, Virginia. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he began a descent from a cruise altitude of 6,000 feet, about 10 miles from the airport. The pilot realized that he was close to the airport and made a 360-degree turn to lose additional altitude. While on final approach to Runway 30, a 4,550-foot long, 100 foot wide, asphalt runway, the pilot believed he was still too high and increased his rate of descent. As the airplane was flared, about 20 feet above the runway, the airplane stalled and impacted the runway hard on the nose wheel. The pilot initiated a go-around and radioed to the UNICOM frequency, requesting that someone visually check the airplane for any damage. After a fly-by, no damage was observed and the airplane returned to land uneventfully.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the nose gear assembly, the engine mounts, and the engine firewall.

The winds reported at the airport, at the time of the accident, were from 270 degrees at 6 knots.