Aviation Accident Summary SEA97LA078

EVERETT, WA, USA

Aircraft #1

N35034

Cessna 177B

Analysis

The pilot stated that she made a normal landing, but after lowering the nose, she 'felt a jolt (or crunch), bounced slightly, landed a second time, losing direction control to the left. The plane veered into the soft dirt and grass, which was very wet, most likely due to the rain that morning and the day before. The plane came to a stop with the nose gear embedded in the dirt.' In her written statement, the pilot stated that she believed the nose tire blew on contact with the runway, and that it was a contributing factor to the loss of directional control.

Factual Information

On March 23, 1997, at 1508 Pacific standard time, N35034, a Cessna 177B, sustained substantial damage when its pilot lost directional control after landing at Paine Field, Everett, Washington. The private pilot and her two passengers were uninjured. The flight had departed Boeing Field on a pleasure flight that was planned to include landings at Paine Field and Bremerton. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which was conducted in visual meteorological conditions. There was no report of the ELT actuating. The pilot stated that she made a normal landing. On letting down the nose, she "felt a jolt (or crunch), bounced slightly, landed a second time, losing direction control to the left. The plane veered into the soft dirt and grass, which was very wet, most likely due to the rain that morning and the day before. The plane came to a stop with the nose gear embedded in the dirt." FAA inspectors and a local FBO determined that the airplane had sustained substantial damage. In her written statement, the pilot stated that she believed the nose tire blew on contact with the runway, and that it was a contributing factor to the loss of directional control.

Probable Cause and Findings

failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane after landing. Factors relating to the accident include: a blown (failed) nose tire, and soft terrain beside the runway.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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