Came across this video of NASA crash testing a high wing Cessna.
Amazing the resiliency of wheels and gear following impact, more amazing how rigid the wing structure remains during initial tests.
Glad to see that Cessna doors pop open too on a hard landing
Sorry if this has already been posted.

Thanks for the video. Some always wondered why I wore my spray helmet while flying pipeline and while instructing.

For me that's an excellent visual of why shoulder belts aren't much good. Just slid right off the shoulders and hesds hit the panel. Would be great to see that same crash but with 4 point harnesses.

I can say without fear of contradiction that I've never landed an airplane that hard-----yet.

Actually, that's a pretty comforting video--pretty amazing how well things held up under the circumstances.

Cary

I wonder how a Cessna taildragger would have handled the hard landing scenario. The mains appeared unphased, but the nose gear was toast.

High wing strut braced Cessnas are not the best at anything, but they are very well rounded in performance, handling and capability. They are designed brilliantly with exceptional considerations taken for safety throughout the design, from controllability to crash worthiness. There is no other plane I would rather be in during a crash scenario than a Cessna 170/172/180/182.

Scolopax wrote:I wonder how a Cessna taildragger would have handled the hard landing scenario. The mains appeared unphased, but the nose gear was toast.

I have had a "hard landing" scarily similar to the first in the film in a 185, only I was still in a left bank required to make my field. The aircraft behaved exactly the same as shown with the exception of the left leg breaking free as it took the full force of the impact.
The aircraft hit (on to soft grass) the bounced/ skipped about 11m/36" then slid on its nose to a stop. I was the only pob, didn't have a hair out of place.

Few things out of this experience;
Speed to height is bull sh*t with a CSU, engine stopped, prop disc killing all speed (I was at 130kt) plane went down, there was no going up!
The plane is designed to look after you, I have an amazing respect of Mr Cessna design team.
I did have a pod on which acted like an airbag, only had it on a week completely totaled it, best investment ever as it help save the plane.
Its bloody unsettling to see the windshield full of grass, with nothing you can do about it.

Hmm anyway 'nough about that