N2980X

Substantial
Minor

CESSNA 177S/N: 17700380

Accident Details

Date
Monday, July 27, 2009
NTSB Number
ERA09CA425
Location
Towanda, PA
Event ID
20090729X64638
Coordinates
41.740001, -76.447219
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
3
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
3

Probable Cause and Findings

The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during a go around following a bounced landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N2980X
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
17700380
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1967
Model / ICAO
177C177
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
DION PAUL E
Address
61 LOOMIS RDG
Status
Deregistered
City
WESTFIELD
State / Zip Code
MA 01085-3959
Country
United States

Analysis

According to the pilot, the airplane was slightly high on the final approach for landing on the 4,300-foot long by 75-foot wide runway. He retained a slight amount of power for the flare, but the airplane impacted the runway and bounced. The pilot decided to go around after an additional bounce, and he applied full power and retracted the flaps incrementally from full flaps to 30 degrees, then to 15 degrees, and finally to 0 degrees. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck a sign, a taxiway light and a runway edge light approximately 2,300 feet beyond the approach threshold. It descended an embankment located approximately 65 feet from the runway centerline and impacted rocks. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane noted damage to the firewall and the left wing. The pilot told the inspector that the airplane functioned normally, with no mechanical problems.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA09CA425