N2437P

On July 2, 2001, at 1435 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182S, N2437P, was substantially damaged during landing at the Orange County Airport (MGJ), Montgomery, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a telephone conversation with the pilot, he reported that the purpose of the flight was to perform one touch-and-go and a full stop landing. The pilot stated it was a "gusty, windy day," with the ASOS reporting winds from 350 degrees, at 9-10 knots. He took off from runway 03, remained in the traffic pattern, and corrected for the crosswind by "crabbing into the wind," using aileron and rudder correction. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and the airplane bounced. The pilot "mistakenly released back pressure" he had maintained throughout the flare, and the airplane bounced several more times down the runway. During the final bounce, the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway, the pilot added full power, and initiated a go-around.

The pilot stated that the second approach "was better than the first;" however, when the airplane touched down, it bounced "higher than during the first landing." The pilot again released the back pressure, and the airplane bounced several more times. During the last bounce, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop on the centerline of the runway.

The pilot reported 350 hours of total flight experience, all of which were in the accident airplane. He also stated there were no mechanical deficiencies.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the firewall and empennage. Additionally, the landing gear nose wheel was broken off the airplane. The inspector reported there were no mechanical deficiencies.

The winds reported at MGJ, at 1454, were from 340 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots.