ATL95LA082

Factual narrative

On April 11, 1995, about 1750 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 337G, N38E, landed hard, bounced, then collapsed the nose landing gear at Savannah, Georgia. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. There were no injuries to the private pilot, who was the sole occupant, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Pontiac, Michigan, at 1235 eastern standard time, on the same day. According to the pilot, the aircraft was high on final approach. As the airplane was approaching the touchdown point, the aircraft sank rapidly. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced. The pilot then added power. The airplane touched down again, and porpoised several times. The pilot then added full power and climbed a few feet above the runway. With ample landing distance remaining, the pilot decided to continue his landing attempt, and reduced power. The aircraft landed hard, again, and started a second series of porpoises which terminated with the airplane's collision with the runway. During the collision, the nose gear collapsed. At 1750, on the same day, the Savannah Automatic Terminal Information Service recorded the wind as coming from 150 degrees at 9 knots, with gusts to 16 knots. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING A VISUAL LANDING ON RUNWAY 9, AT SAVANNAH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT LOOSING CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A SERIES OF PORPOISES DOWN THE RUNWAY AFTER THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN, WHICH TERMINATED WITH THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. AT 1750, ON THE SAME DAY, THE SAVANNAH AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE DEPICTED THE WIND AS COMING FROM 150 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 16 KNOTS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12