| Crash location | 42.267223°N, 71.875556°W |
| Nearest city | Worcester, MA
42.262593°N, 71.802293°W 3.8 miles away |
| Tail number | N73704 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 29 May 2004 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 172M |
| Additional details: | None |
On May 29, 2004, approximately 1230 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N73704, was substantially damaged while landing at the Worcester Regional Airport (ORH), Worcester, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, while landing on runway 29, he crossed the threshold at an airspeed of 75 knots, to compensate for wind gusts. At an altitude about 25-30 feet above the ground, he felt all lift "instantaneously go away," and the airplane dropped to the pavement "like a stone." The airplane then bounced on the runway, and the pilot heard the stall warning horn. He then applied full power and initiated a go-around. At the same time, the left wing dropped and the airplane impacted the ground.
The winds reported at ORH, at 1254, were from 290 degrees, at 21 knots, gusting to 27 knots.
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor in the accident was the gusting wind.