Cessna 172P N6155K

Summary

On 25 May 2015 at about 22:30 local time, a Cessna 172P registered N6155K, operated by Freeway Airport Inc, was involved in an accident near Mitchellville, Maryland, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 May 2015 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Mitchellville, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Freeway (W00)

Coordinates

38.9447, -76.7731

Aircraft

Cessna 172P

Registration

N6155K

Category

Airplane

Year built

1980

Engines

1

Operator

Freeway Airport Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ellenville → Mitchellville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15CA222

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and damage to the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the airplane entered the downwind leg for runway 18, and he elected to use 20 degrees of flaps and a "slightly higher airspeed" due to wind gusts. While on final approach, he maintained an airspeed of 65 knots; however, the airplane floated, which prompted the pilot to perform a go-around maneuver beginning about halfway down the length of the runway. During the pilot's subsequent landing attempt, the airplane floated again; this time he lowered the nose. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear and subsequently bounced several times before coming to a stop. The pilot then taxied the airplane to the side of the runway and into the grass and secured the engine. One witness reported that the airplane, while on final approach, was "high and fast" with a nose-down attitude and landed flat. Another witness reported that the airplane landed in a nose-down attitude and bounced 4 or 5 times on the runway before coming to rest. All witnesses reported that the airplane "porpoised" after landing. Photographic evidence revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. According to the pilot, there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.