Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and damage to the airplane.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that he misjudged the landing flare and stalled the aircraft just above the runway during a night landing. The aircraft hit the pavement on the nose gear, damaging the firewall and the structural elements immediately behind it. The pilot was a newly certificated private pilot and had accumulated a total night time of 4.6 hours.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 13, 1997, at 2130 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182G, N2164R, collided with the runway while landing at the Sierra Sky Park Airport, Fresno, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was completing a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and the two passengers onboard were not injured. The flight originated at the Sierra Sky Park Airport on the day of the accident at 2030, and made a stop at the Fresno Air Terminal prior to returning for landing. The pilot reported the accident to Federal Aviation Administration inspectors on July 21 when the extent of the damage was determined to be substantial. The pilot stated that he misjudged the landing flare and stalled the aircraft just above the runway. The aircraft hit the pavement on the nose gear, damaging the firewall and the structural elements immediately behind it. The pilot is a newly certificated private pilot and has accumulated a total night time of 4.6 hours. -