The pilot reported that, while landing at the airport in Naples, Florida, the Piper PA28 had a “slight bounce,” became airborne again, and drifted left of centerline.
He overcorrected to the right with the rudder. When the plane touched down a second time, the nosewheel was angled to the right and the airplane exited the runway onto the adjacent grass where the right wing hit a taxiway sign.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.
The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with sign.
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This January 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Hindsight tells me that a “go around” was the thing to do…