Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he made a hard landing and the left tire blew out. He subsequently lost directional control and veered off the right-hand side of the runway, damaging the aircraft structure at the landing gear attach point.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 9, 1995, at 1457 Pacific daylight time, an Aviat A-1, N12TQ, sustained structural damage following a hard landing and loss of directional control at Elko, Nevada. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor his one passenger was injured. The flight originated at the Elko Municipal Airport on the day of the accident at 1400 as a local flight. The pilot reported that he made a hard landing and the left tire blew out. He subsequently lost directional control and veered off the right hand side of the runway, damaging the aircraft structure at the landing gear attach point. -