S.O.C.A.T.A. RALLYE 235 N315RA accident near Ontario, Oregon

Probable cause

The pilot's misjudged landing flare. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of any experience in the make and model airplane.

NTSB analysis

The pilot, who was conducting a series of touch-and-go landings, allowed the airplane to balloon during the landing flare. The airplane then dropped in from about five feet above the runway, resulting in a hard landing on all three landing gear. The pilot then added power, took off, and continued in the traffic pattern for another landing. During the subsequent landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot, who had accumulated about 1,500 hours total flying time, had not flown this make and model airplane prior to this flight.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA271 for the full record.