N909HC

Substantial
None

CESSNA 172NS/N: 17270803

Accident Details

Date
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
NTSB Number
GAA15CA274
Location
Herington, KS
Event ID
20150924X90741
Coordinates
38.697498, -96.808052
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing roll, which resulted in a porpoise.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N909HC
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
17270803
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1978
Model / ICAO
172NC172
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SALE REPORTED
Address
635 AIRPORT RD
Status
Deregistered
City
GREELEY
State / Zip Code
CO 80631-9148
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll, "all of a sudden the plane started ballooning up from a strong gust of wind, I lowered the nose of the airplane slightly as to avoid a stall." He reported that, "I was then forced back to the ground violently and once again ballooned up" and that the airplane, "ballooned up and was forced down 5 times." Once the porpoising ceased, the pilot taxied off the runway without further incident. A post flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage, the firewall, and the floor boards underneath the rudder pedals.

The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA15CA274