NTSB Factual Report

On July 31, 2002, approximately 2000 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177B, N34633, registered to Lazy Eight Flying Club, Inc., and being operated/flown by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a loss of control on landing at Elma, Washington. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14 CFR 91, and was returning from a dinner stopover at Hoquiam, Washington, after departing Elma earlier in the evening.

The pilot reported that his approach to runway 25 (2,275 in length) was a little high and long and that he bounced on touchdown. He applied power to arrest the descent and then lost sight of the runway environment because the nose "was a little high." When the pilot lowered the nose back down to a lower attitude the aircraft was already diverging off the north side of the 30-foot wide asphalt runway. The aircraft then rolled into an area of heavy blackberry brush and scotch broom north of the runway. The pilot reported that there was no power plant or control problem during the event (refer to attached NTSB Form 6120.1/2).

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a bounced landing and recovery resulting in the aircraft's departing the runway. Contributing factors were the high brush/vegetation the aircraft rolled into and the pilot's reduced visual acquisition of the runway environment due to the aircraft's nose high attitude.