Livermore, CA, USA
N73857
Cessna 172N
During a landing attempt the airplane porpoised on touchdown and bounced at least two times. The pilot performed a go-around and landed uneventfully on the second attempt.
On July 20, 2003, at 1230 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N73857, experienced a hard landing at Livermore Airport, California. The airplane was registered to and operated by Flying Particles, Inc., a flying club in Livermore, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight plan had not been filed. The personal flight originated from the Fresno-Chandler Downtown Airport about 1130. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120 1/2), that she bounced the airplane two times while attempting to land on runway 25R. She described the bounces as a "porpoise." The pilot then executed a go-around and on the second approach she landed uneventfully. The winds at Livermore were recorded as variable at 3 knots. A mechanic inspected the airplane and reported to the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) that the engine firewall was damaged and a section of fuselage skin behind the firewall on the left side was wrinkled.
The pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a porpoise pilot induced oscillation and hard landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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