San Diego, CA, USA
N78DH
Hirsch Thorp T-18
The conventional gear airplane bounced two times after touchdown and nosed over. On the first bounce, the pilot added a small amount of power to allow the airplane to settle back onto the runway. However, the airplane bounced again, and he added full power in an attempt to go around and pushed forward on the control stick. The propeller then contacted the runway and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
On March 3, 2007, about 1100 Pacific standard time, an amateur built experimental Hirsch Thorp T-18, N78DH, nosed over during landing at Brown Field Municipal Airport (SDM), San Diego, California. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed SDM about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The approximate global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the primary wreckage were 32 degrees 34 minutes north latitude and 116 degrees 58 minutes west longitude. The pilot operator stated in a written report that while landing on runway 8L the airplane bounced and became airborne. The pilot added a small amount of power and let the airplane settle back onto the runway. The airplane bounced again, and the pilot noticed that the airplane was close to the right edge of the runway. He applied full power and pushed forward on the control stick. The propeller struck the runway and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
The pilot's improper bounced landing recovery and improper use of the flight controls that resulted in a porpoise and a nose over.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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