NTSB Factual Report

The 2,000-hour private pilot landed hard and lost control of the single-engine airplane while landing on a 5,800-feet long by 100-feet wide asphalt runway. The 72-year old pilot reported that he planned a local flight and elected to return to the airport after he climbed to approximately 1,000 feet above the ground. The pilot reported that prior his departure, he noticed that the left seat would not slide forward, thus he was unable to adjust the seat. During the landing, the airplane's nose gear tire touched down first and the airplane bounced once before the nose gear impacted the ground a second time and collapsed. The airplane came to rest in the upright position on the left side of the runway. The engine firewall was buckled and the left wing tip was also damaged. The pilot's medical certificate was denied in September 2006 due to heart problems. The pilot also told the NTSB investigator and the FAA inspector that "I know I shouldn't have flown that plane. I know it was wrong." At 1753, a weather reporting station located 10 miles east from the accident site, was reporting wind from 090 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 63 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.11 inches of Mercury.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.