NTSB Factual Report

On August 12, 2001, about 1219 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N4916N, registered to a private individual, experienced a loss of control during a touch-and-go landing at the Savannah International Airport, Savannah, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged by impact and a post crash fire and the private-rated pilot sustained serious injuries. The passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated about 6 minutes earlier from the Savannah International Airport.

Before taxiing, the pilot advised the controller that he had Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) "Whiskey" which at that time indicated in part that the wind was variable at 7 knots. The pilot was cleared to taxi to runway 09, then was cleared to takeoff and remain in right traffic.

The pilot later stated that after takeoff the flight remained in the traffic pattern and he lowered 10 degrees of flaps on the downwind leg, turned base and lowered an additional 10 degrees of flaps, then turned onto final approach where he lowered an additional 10 degrees of flaps. He stated that he did not flare enough and the airplane bounced up "slightly." The airplane porpoised two times and he later learned that the propeller contacted the left runway edge. He attempted to takeoff again before the airplane departed the runway; this was unsuccessful. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, collided with a taxiway light, and rolled onto grass between the runway and taxiway E. The nose landing gear collided with a berm causing the nose landing gear to collapse; the airplane then nosed over. He lost consciousness when the flight contacted the berm and regained consciousness while inverted; both occupants exited the airplane through the passenger door. Additionally, he reported that he had received his high-performance sign-off by a flight instructor before the accident flight. Flight training for the high-performance sign-off consisted of 5 hours of flight instruction.

A METAR issued at 1153 local, indicates in part that the wind was from 170 degrees at 7 knots.

Review of FAA Order 7110.65N, titled "Air Traffic Control" indicates, "ASOS/AWOS is to be considered the primary source of wind direction, velocity, and altimeter data for weather observation purposes..."

NTSB Probable Cause

The delay of the pilot to perform a go-around following a bounced landing and porpoise, and failure of the pilot to maintain directional control resulting in the airplane departing the runway and colliding with a berm.