# NTSB CEN09CA166: Piper PA-28, N5303W, Terrell, TX, February 7, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 7, 2009, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Terrell, TX - Coordinates: 32.808334, -96.351112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8083&lon=-96.3511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Dallas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73359 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73359/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA166 ## Probable cause The commercial pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent flight experience. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Piper PA-28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=7102801), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was on final approach to landing on a 2,630 foot long by 30 foot wide asphalt runway with direct crosswinds at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The airplane suddenly stalled and airplane crashed short of the threshold and bounced onto the runway causing substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and all three landing gear. The pilot reported that he had a total of eight hours in the same type or airplane, had flown a total on one hour in the past 90 days, and he had not completed flight review within the previous 24 calendar months. The two persons onboard reported they were not injured. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot was on final approach to landing on a 2,630-foot-long by 30-foot-wide asphalt runway with direct crosswinds at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The airplane suddenly stalled and airplane crashed short of the threshold and bounced onto the runway causing substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and all three landing gear. The pilot reported that he had a total of eight hours in the same type or airplane, had flown a total on one hour in the past 90 days, and he had not completed flight review within the previous 24 calendar months. The two persons onboard reported they were not injured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5303W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5303W-2012-12-18), registration cancelled 2012-12-18, S/N 28-354, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28) (registry code 7102801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-354 - Airframe hours: 2307 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 series 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 6, 2009, 2 hours before - Departed: 1F7, Terrell, TX - Destination: 1F7, Terrell, TX - Airport: 1F7, Airpark East Airport, runway 13, 2,630 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 5, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 371 total, 8 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown; last flight review November 6, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 525 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 15 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KTRL, 8 nm away ## 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 20090207002479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090207002479A), Feb 7, 2009: Piper PA28160, Terrell, TX, Substantial damage. On February 07, 2009, a Piper, PA-28-160, N5303W, owned by [privacy data omitted] and being operated by pilot [privacy data omitted], landed short of runway 13… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.