Event DEN05LA064

Factual narrative

On March 19, 2005, approximately 1015 mountain standard time, a Cessna 177B, N30874, operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport (RKS), Rock Springs, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated at 0830. According to the pilot, the automatic weather observing/reporting system (AWOS), reported that the winds were 240 degrees at 12 knots. He stated that he was set up on final approach for runway 27 (10,000 x 150 feet), and his airspeed was 75 mph. While in the flare, the airplane "ballooned" approximately 6 to 8 feet, and then it "stalled" and bounced hard on the runway about 1,700 feet from the approach end. When he increased the engine throttle to "full power," the airplane's nose dropped and it landed a second time, striking the propeller and nose landing gear. The airplane departed the left side of the runway about 2,000 feet and struck a runway light with its right horizontal stabilator. The pilot stated that he brought the airplane back on the runway about 2,400 feet and then taxied it to the hanger. The airplane's firewall was buckled, the right stabilator was displaced aft, and its leading edge was crushed. At 0954, the reported weather conditions at Rock Springs, elevation 6,760 feet msl was, wind, 260 degrees at 7 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, overcast at 9,000 feet; temperature, 5 degrees C.; dew point, minus 8 degrees C.; altimeter setting, 29.82. The calculated density altitude was 7,256 feet msl. At 1054, the reported weather conditions at Rock Springs was, wind, 280 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 20 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, broken at 9,000 feet; temperature, 7 degrees C.; dew point, minus 7 degrees C.; altimeter setting, 29.82. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), submitted by the pilot, he had accumulated a total of 165.2 flight hours in all aircraft, of which a total of 23.2 hours was in make and model. According to the pilot, AWOS reported that the winds were 240 degrees at 12 knots. He stated that he was set up on final approach for runway 27, and his airspeed was 75 mph. While in the flare, the airplane "ballooned" approximately 6 to 8 feet, and then it "stalled" and bounced hard on the runway about 1,700 feet from the approach end. When he increased the engine throttle to "full power," the airplane's nose dropped and it landed a second time, striking the propeller and nose landing gear. The airplane departed the left side of the runway about 2,000 feet down and struck a runway light with its right horizontal stabilator. The pilot stated that he brought the airplane back on the runway about 2,400 feet down and then taxied it to the hanger. The airplane's firewall was buckled and the right stabilator was displaced aft and its leading edge was crushed. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12