Sierra Sky Park Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fresno, California 93704
Saturday, July 10, 1999 8:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot flew over the airport and determined the winds were light. On final approach he set the flaps to 30 degrees and maintained 68 to 70 knots. About 1/8 mile from the runway, he reduced power to idle. He began his flare over the runway numbers and noted the airplane continued to float over the runway. He gently raised the nose and heard the stall warning horn; however, the airplane continued to float. The airplane dropped onto the main landing gear, bounced into the air, came down on the nose gear, and bounced into the air again. The pilot was aware that the nose tire had blown so he added power, kept the control yoke back, and settled onto the runway. He then taxied to a parking spot. A mechanic replaced the nose tire and cleared the airplane for flight. The pilot departed and returned to Fresno. Subsequent inspection revealed the firewall was wrinkled.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's misjudged landing flare and inadequate recovery procedures from the subsequent bounced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City FRESNO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93704
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SIERRA SKY PARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Q60
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 321
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 756 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 285
Weather Observation Facility ID FAT
Elevation of weather observation facility 328
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 22000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1704
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 13 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Aug 14 2001 2:38PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N73113
NTSB Number LAX99LA250
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17267269
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 7 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 4354
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AVIATION IN
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 8121
Aircraft Owner City FRESNO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93747
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FAT
Departure City
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 745
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code Q60
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 14 2001 10:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 2920
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --