Event GAA15CA041

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he landed the airplane with full flaps, which he usually doesn't do, and believed that the full flaps created an excessive approach descent rate. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced several times, and was hard to taxi after exiting the runway. A post landing examination by the pilot revealed structural damage to the firewall and fuselage. The pilot reported that prior to the landing, there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he landed the airplane with full flaps, which he usually did not do, and believed that the full flaps created an excessive approach descent rate. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced several times, and was hard to taxi after exiting the runway. A post landing examination by the pilot revealed structural damage to the firewall and fuselage. The pilot reported that prior to the landing, there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent rate-Not attained/maintained
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C