NTSB Factual Report

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was returning to Vancouver, Washington, after a go-around at Albany, Oregon, due to a "problem with flaps." The pilot changed his mind en route, and decided to land at Aurora, Oregon, because of the longer and wider runway. The pilot chose to land on runway 17, with the ASOS reporting winds from 240 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot flew a normal approach and "felt good." The airplane bounced on landing and the pilot "gave it some gas to smooth [the] touchdown and then pulled [the] throttle back." The airplane contacted the ground again and bounced even higher. The pilot couldn't remember exactly what happened next, but supposed "we caught a gust of wind which lifted us out of ground effect." The airplane "dropped hard" from the second bounce, resulting in a bent firewall and the propeller striking the runway. After rollout, the pilot taxied the airplane off of the runway to the parking area. In the 15 minutes following the accident, the ASOS reported no wind gusts.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's misjudged flare during landing, and his improper recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in collision with the runway.