The pilot was attempting to land the Bellanca 17-30A at an airport in Baltimore, Maryland, when the plane bounced after touchdown and turned into the wind like a weathervane.
The pilot aborted the landing, but as the airplane began to climb, it hit a taxiway light.
The pilot thought he struck the left landing gear and contacted the control tower who confirmed that all three landing gear appeared down and locked.
The pilot was able to return to the airport and land without incident.
Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the left horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the aborted landing, which resulted in a collision with a taxiway light.
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This September 2023 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.
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