NTSB Factual Report

On July 2, 2001, about 1710 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N54576, was substantially damaged while landing at the Bay Bridge Airport, Stevensville, Maryland. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, as he approached the airport, he was advised that the winds were from 060 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot entered the final approach leg to runway 11, a 2,903 foot long, 60 foot wide, asphalt runway, "above glide path and remained too high throughout final." With a view of ample runway ahead, the pilot "decided to continue with the landing rather than go around." The airplane touched down, bounced back into the air, and "ballooned excessively." The pilot added power to recover from the bounced landing, touched down a second time, and the airplane began to porpoise. The nose wheel tire then ruptured and the propeller struck the asphalt. The airplane came to rest upright.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook, the proper technique for recovery from "excessive" "Floating During Roundout", and "Ballooning During Roundout," was "EXECUTE A GO-AROUND IMMEDIATELY."

The winds reported by a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, were calm.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper flare and his improper recovery from a bounced landing.