Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudged flare, improper level-off, and improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated he was coming in too fast on final approach. As he crossed the threshold, he began his flare and ballooned. He dropped the nose, landed, and bounced. He stated he then landed on the nose wheel and the aircraft flipped over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 26, 1997, about 1510 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N75522, collided with the runway during landing at the Triple W Airport, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. The airplane was operated by C & C Aircraft Services under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the local personal flight. There were no injuries to the private pilot, the sole occupant, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Fuquay-Varina, at 1300 eastern daylight time, on the same day. The pilot stated to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration's Winston-Salem Flight Standards District Office, that the landing attempt was fast, resulting in a hard, bounced landing. When the airplane bounced back into the air, the pilot stated, he added power and "...must have pulled back on the stick, because the airplane stalled out and landed again, hard on the nose wheel." The pilot stated that he was on final approach when he realized his airspeed was dropping below 60 knots. He then dropped the nose and added power. His airspeed was almost 75 knots as he neared the threshold. When crossing the threshold, the pilot said he began his flare and balooned. He stated he dropped the nose and the aircraft bounced. He said he landed on the nose wheel which broke off and the airplane landed on its back. -