NTSB Factual Report

On July 20, 2014, about 1540 central daylight time, a Cessna 177B single engine airplane, N5511B, was substantially damaged during landing at Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU), Georgetown, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane had departed from Lancaster Regional Airport (LNC), Lancaster, Texas, about 1430 for the flight to GTU.

The air traffic controller witnessed the accident and reported that the airplane bounced during the landing and on the second touchdown the nose of the airplane was aligned well to the left of the runway centerline. Directional control was then lost and the airplane exited the left side of the runway surface, flipped, and came to rest inverted. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the vertical fin, rudder, empennage, fuselage, and wing. The right door was jammed from the impact damage and the pilot and passenger exited the inverted airplane through the left door. There was no postimpact fire.

An examination found no preaccident mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

At 1540 the automated weather observing system at GTU reported wind from 170 degrees at 9 knots, visibility of 10 miles, few clouds at 3,200 feet, temperature 33 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 24 degrees C, with an altimeter setting of 29.94 inches of Mercury.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing.