Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudged landing flare and his improper bounced landing recovery technique. A factor was the snow bank.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that during landing the airplane 'touched down very hard, bounced high and floated.' When the airplane touched down the second time, it was 'headed off [the] runway (15 degree angle +-).' He attempted to go around, but the airplane did not get airborne. The landing gear contacted a deep snow bank approximately 500 feet east and 100 feet south of where the airplane departed the runway, and it came to rest inverted.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 25, 1997, at 1030 mountain standard time, a Cessna, 172K, N686JF, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing at the Telluride Regional Airport, Telluride, Colorado. The private pilot, sole occupant in the airplane, received minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by Glenwood Aviation as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country flight which originated from Canyonlands Field Airport, Moab, Utah, approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes before the accident. A VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot stated that during landing the airplane "touched down very hard, bounced high and floated." When the airplane touched down the second time, it was "headed off [the] runway (15 degree angle +-)." He attempted to go around, but the airplane did not get airborne. The landing gear contacted a deep snow bank approximately 500 feet east and 100 feet south of where the airplane departed the runway, and it came to rest inverted. The airplane's wings, engine, propeller, empennage, and fuselage were all damaged. -