Cessna 172P N83PD accident near Schenectady, New York

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of control.

NTSB analysis

After a brief local flight, the pilot returned to the departure airport. During the landing, the airplane touched down on the runway and bounced. The pilot again attempted to land the airplane; however, the airplane’s nose dropped, and the nose landing gear and propeller struck the runway, resulting in a second bounce. The airplane struck the runway again before the pilot regained control of it and taxied it to the hangar. A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA12CA098 for the full record.