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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 31, 2012 · Cessna 182Q · N1DV

Three Lakes, WI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 31, 2012
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Three Lakes, WI
Aircraft
Cessna 182Q
Tail Number
N1DV
Operator
Vecchie Donald J
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN12CA509

Upon arrival at his destination airport after an uneventful instrument flight rules flight, the pilot entered the left downwind leg of the traffic pattern for a visual landing. The initial flare and touchdown were smooth at 85 knots. The airplane then floated and bounced twice, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest about halfway down the runway. An examination of the airplane showed that the nose gear was separated from the airplane, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported that he should have slowed to about 70 to 75 knots for touchdown to avoid floating and the subsequent bounced landing. The pilot stated that he was a corporate jet pilot and that he flew light reciprocating-engine aircraft only a few times a year. His perspective was that in flying corporate jets, computations of final approach speeds are more precisely determined and executed by the pilot. Final approach speeds in the light airplane category are determined moreso by an airspeed range depending on the wind conditions and gross weight. He offered that his higher-than-optimal approach speed was a result of not having recent experience in flying light airplanes. He stated that he had not flown a light aircraft for 6 months prior to this event.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's excessive touchdown speed, which resulted in a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience in flying light airplanes.

Full Narrative

Upon arrival at his destination airport after an uneventful IFR flight, the pilot set up for a visual left downwind to land. The initial flare and touchdown was smooth at 85 knots. The airplane then floated and bounced twice, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest about halfway down the runway. An examination of the airplane showed the nose gear was separated from the airplane, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported that he should have slowed to about 70-75 knots for touchdown to avoid floating and subsequent bounced landing. In a telephone interview with the NTSB IIC, the pilot stated that he was a corporate jet pilot and he flew light reciprocating-engine aircraft only a few times a year. His perspective was that in flying corporate jets, computations of final approach speeds are more precisely determined and executed by the pilot. Final approach speeds in the light airplane category are determined more so by an airspeed range depending on the wind conditions and gross weight. He offered that his higher than optimal approach speed was a result of not having recent experience in flying light airplanes. He stated that he had not flown a light aircraft for six months prior to this event.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:40 CDT
Nearest AirportThree Lakes Municipal Airport (0nm)
Runway21
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182Q
Tail NumberN1DV
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorVecchie Donald J
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · O-470 SERIES · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 67 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter30.01 inHg
Observation Time17:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data