# NTSB CEN10CA522: Piper PA-28R-200, N404SE, Berrien Springs, MI, September 6, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 6, 2010, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Berrien Springs, MI - Coordinates: 41.951667, -86.3675 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9517&lon=-86.3675&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA522 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77207/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77207 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA522 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and the pilot were performing a simulated forced landing. During the maneuver, the pilot did not maintain a stabilized airspeed on final approach. The airplane landed hard on the runway, sustaining substantial damage. Both pilots reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. The flight instructor stated that he should have aborted the landing at the first indication of an error by the pilot. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor and the pilot were performing a simulated forced landing. The flight spiraled down, the gear and flaps were lowered, and the airplane overshot the runway centerline on the turn to the final approach. The pilot did not maintain a stabilized airspeed on final. The airplane sustained substantial damage when the airplane landed hard on the runway. The flight instructor reported that he attempted to correct the flight "but the aircraft was too slow to respond due to the loss of airspeed caused by the final flare." Neither the pilot nor flight instructor listed any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The flight instructor's safety recommendation stated that he "should have aborted the landing at the first indication of an error by the pilot." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N404SE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N404SE), registered now, S/N 28R-7435223, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7435223 - Airframe hours: 1200 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Andrews University - Registered owner: Andrews University - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: C20, Berrien Springs, MI - Destination: C20, Berrien Springs, MI - Airport: C20, Andrews University Airpark, runway 13, 4,161 × 75 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 65; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 2,960 total, 29 in this make and model, 2,772 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 322 total, 50 in this make and model, 199 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: BEH ## 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 20100906045699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100906045699A), Sep 6, 2010: Piper PA-28R-200, Berrien Springs, MI, Substantial damage. Upon landing from a instructional flight, CFI initiated a simulated engine out @ 4500' MSL in which the student started a spiraling descent to runway 13 with… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77207. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot and CFI Reports (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337010&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Pilot%20and%20CFI%20Reports-Master.PDF 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.