CESSNA 177
Wickenburg, AZ — July 29, 2016
Event Information
| Date | July 29, 2016 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA16CA404 |
| Event ID | 20160801X43359 |
| Location | Wickenburg, AZ |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 33.97111, -112.79444 |
| Airport | WICKENBURG MUNI |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | CESSNA |
| Model | 177 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's incorrect balked landing procedure, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent, hard landing, a runway excursion, and nose gear collapse.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that after a hard landing the airplane began to porpoise and he decided to abort the landing. The pilot reported that during the aborted landing, he added power and as the airplane began to climb, he retracted the flaps too soon and too quickly and the airplane settled back onto the runway, landed hard again, veered off the runway to the right, collapsed the nose gear, and stopped in a nose down attitude.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron, fuselage, and empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
The procedures for a balked landing, as provided by Cessna, state:
1. Power – Full throttle and 2700 RPM
2. Carburetor Heat – Cold
3. Wing Flaps – Retract to 20 degrees
4. Upon reaching an airspeed of approximately 75 MPH, retract flaps slowly
The pilot reported as a safety recommendation to wait longer for the aircraft to further stabilize, gain speed, and begin climbing before retracting flaps.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.