This April 2010 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: Globe GC-1B Injuries: None. Location: Carollton, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The left-seat pilot stated that at the end of a 45-minute flight, the pilot-rated passenger was attempting to land on runway 35 at the destination airport. The airplane bounced, veered left, and struck a runway sign with the propeller and left main landing gear.
The left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in the grass next to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and wing spar.
The left-seat pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The pilot-rated passenger stated that he was acting as a safety pilot due to the left seat pilot’s age, and the left-seat pilot was flying the approach until the second bounce when the safety pilot took over control of the airplane. According to the safety pilot a gust of wind then forced the airplane off the left side of the runway, into the grass. Recorded weather at the accident airport, about the time of the accident, included variable winds from 230° to 310° at 9 knots, with gusts to 14 knots.
Probable cause: The pilot’s improper recovery from the bounced landings, resulting in a loss of directional control.
For more information: NTSB.gov. NTSB Identification: ERA10CA243
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