La Grande Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

La Grande, Oregon 97850
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 8:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, during the approach to landing, he "…flared too high" and the airplane landed hard, bounced, and "…got away from me [him]." Despite his control inputs, the airplane exited the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the nosewheel landing gear and right main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane's flight control systems prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/2/2009
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 815
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City La Grande
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97850
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 451724N
Event Location Longitude 1180025W
Event Location Airport La Grande Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LGD
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 2717
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 815 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LGD
Elevation of weather observation facility 2717
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.1
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26165
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 13 2009 5:14PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N14786
NTSB Number WPR09CA439
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 17-30A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 74-30651
Certified Max Gross Weight 3325
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2163
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name DOUGLAS A SHEPARD
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MADRAS
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97741-9043
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name DOUGLAS A SHEPARD
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City MADRAS
Operator State OR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 97741-9043
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code S33
Departure City Madras
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code LGD
Destination City La Grande
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 13 2009 5:14PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 3876
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --