CESSNA 177

Full Narrative

The pilot stated that he had flown into the private airstrip with his instructor in March 2011; the flight was uneventful. After departure on the accident date he proceeded to the destination airstrip and flew over it noting the wind was light (5 knots maximum), from about 90 degrees to the right, or from 040 degrees. He entered the downwind leg for runway 31, which is a 2,100 foot-long asphalt runway, then turned onto base and final. With the flaps fully extended he maintained 80 miles-per-hour (mph) on final approach, though his typical indicated airspeed on final approach is 70 mph. He reported he was a "little high" on final approach, and during the flare, the airplane nosed up then began porpoising. The first touchdown point was about 1/4 down the runway, and added full power to recover, but there was not enough runway remaining to recover. He landed in a field to the right side of the runway then collided with a ditch while traveling about 20 to 30 mph, which collapsed the nose landing gear. He further stated there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane.