This July 2009 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Cessna 177. Injuries: 3 Minor. Location: Towanda, Pa. Aircraft damage: 3 Minor.
What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, the airplane was slightly high on the final approach for landing on the 4,300-foot runway. The airplane bounced on touch down. The pilot decided to go around and applied full power and retracted the flaps incrementally. He did not maintain directional control and the airplane went off the left side of the runway and hit a sign, a taxiway light, and a runway edge light. The airplane went down an embankment located approximately 65 feet from the runway centerline and came to rest in rocks.
Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during a go around following a bounced landing.
For more information: NTSB.gov NTSB Identification: ERA09CA425
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