Aviation Accident Summary NYC04CA104

Bridgeport, CT, USA

Aircraft #1

N6583D

Cessna 172N

Analysis

The pilot was about 20 feet above runway 28 during landing, when the airplane encountered a wind gust which blew it off the left side of the centerline. The pilot realigned the airplane with the centerline when a second gust "ballooned" it up and then "slammed" it back down onto the runway. The nose wheel tire "popped," subsequently collapsing the nose gear assembly. The propeller struck the ground, buckling the firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He also reported 142 hours of total flight experience, 3 of which were in make and model. The winds were reported to be from 280 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots.

Factual Information

On April 10, 2004, at 1356 eastern daylight time, N6583D, a Cessna 172N, was substantially damaged during landing at the Igor Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR), Bridgeport, Connecticut. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he was about 20 feet above runway 28 during landing, when the airplane encountered a wind gust which blew it off the left side of the centerline. The pilot realigned the airplane with the centerline when a second gust "ballooned" it up and then "slammed" it back down onto the runway. The nose wheel tire "popped," subsequently collapsing the nose gear assembly. The propeller struck the ground, buckling the firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He also reported 142 hours of total flight experience, 3 of which were in make and model. The winds reported at 1354, at BDR, were from 280 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in a hard landing. A factor was the gusty winds.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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