Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent runway excursion.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, during the landing flare, the airplane “bounced” back into the air. The pilot attempted to regain control of the airplane but was unsuccessful. The airplane collided with the runway and “skidded” off the left side before coming to a stop in the grass. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the accident and conformed that the fuselage had been substantially damaged.