# NTSB ANC08CA081: Marvin A. Smith Pietenpol Air Camper, N165MS, Soldotna, AK, June 27, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 27, 2008, 08:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Soldotna, AK
- Coordinates: 60.479999, -151.066665
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4800&lon=-151.0667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68352
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08CA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68352/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA081

## Probable cause

The student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Marvin A PIETENPOL CAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7040394), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Smith Marvin A PIETENPOL CAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7040394), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Smith Marvin A PIETENPOL CAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7040394), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was landing on a dry paved runway. During touchdown, the airplane bounced, and the student pilot attempted to recover from the bounced landing, but the airplane bounced a second time, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane went off the left side of the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. At the time of the accident, winds were reported to be calm. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot was landing on a dry paved runway. During touchdown, the airplane bounced, and the student pilot attempted to recover from the bounced landing, but the airplane bounced a second time, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane went off the left side of the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. At the time of the accident, winds were reported to be calm. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N165MS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N165MS-2012-12-07), registration cancelled 2012-12-07, S/N MAS65, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Marvin A. Smith Pietenpol Air Camper
- Registry model: [Smith Marvin A PIETENPOL CAMPER](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-marvin-a-pietenpol-camper) (registry code 7040394) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: MAS-65
- Airframe hours: 136
- Engines: Ford Escort 1.6 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Clayton T. Yoncher
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2008
- Departed: SXQ, Soldotna, AK
- Destination: XQ, Soldotna, AK
- Airport: SXQ, Soldotna, runway 25, 5,000 × 130 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; student; seat: rear; flight hours: 75 total, 75 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20080627840869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080627840869A), Jun 27, 2008: PIETENCAMPER, Soldotna, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) The student pilot was operating the aircraft in the traffic pattern. The aircraft turned final and established a stabilized approach. While on shrot…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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