NTSB Factual Report

On June 9, 2002, approximately 1040 central daylight time, a Cessna 177, single-engine airplane, N2282Y, departed runway 16 following a hard landing at the Sherman Municipal Airport, near Sherman, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual under Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot received serious injuries, his passenger was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight departed Gordonville, Texas, at 1000.

On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) the pilot reported that the airplane was configured with 10 degrees of flaps and established on final approach for a full stop landing on runway 16. As the airplane descended through about 100 feet agl and about 300 feet short of the touchdown point on the runway, the airspeed suddenly increased from 70 to 80 knots, while the airplane appeared to start climbing. The pilot stated that he pulled back on the control yoke to re-establish his 70 knots. A high rate of descent developed as the pilot regain control of the airspeed and the pilot added full power in an attempt to arrest the airplane's high rate of descent. The airplane landed hard on all 3 gears and then bounced back in the air, and hit hard a second time and the airplane stayed on the ground, slowly rolling to a stop in the grass adjacent to the left side of the runway. The pilot recalled that the propeller blade hit the runway.

The passenger reported that during the landing, the airplane "hit the runway very hard on all three wheels."

The 540 hour-private pilot reported having accumulated a total of 266.5 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane. The 1967 model airplane was registered to the owner/pilot on August 31, 1991. On August 1, 2001, at the last annual inspection, the airplane had accumulated 1,711.73 hours of flight.

The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, along side with a representative of the aircraft manufacturer, examined the airplane. Vertical deformation was found on both sides of the fuselage in the area of the engine firewall. The engine firewall sustained structural damage and deformation. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The flap selector and flap indicator were found at the 10 degrees position. Both cockpit seats were found attached to the seat rails and the seat locking mechanism was engaged. Neither the seat rails not seats exhibited deformation. Both occupants were utilizing the seat belts, and the airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses.

The pilot reported the wind from 140 degrees at 16 knots.

At 1058, the weather observation facility at Grayson County Airport, Sherman-Denison, Texas, located 7 nautical miles northwest of Sherman, reported the wind from 210 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds 2,000, temperature 26 degrees Celsius (C.), dew point 22 degrees., and the altimeter setting 29.92 inches Mercury.

At 1134, the weather observation facility at Durant, Oklahoma, located 21 nautical miles northeast of Sherman, reported the wind from 190 degrees at 8 knots, gusting 16 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds 2,700, broken ceilings at 3,700 and 4,500, temperature 29 degrees C., dew point 24 degrees C., and the altimeter setting 29.93 inches Mercury.

NTSB Probable Cause

The hard landing as result of the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswinds.