# NTSB CEN11CA176: Piper PA-28-180, N5658W, Pekin, IL, January 19, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 19, 2011, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Pekin, IL - Coordinates: 40.488334, -89.675834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4883&lon=-89.6758&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78299 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78299/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78299 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA176 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-28-180, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102808), [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-28-180, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102808), [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-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot said that he was a performing takeoffs and landings on his first solo flight when the accident occurred. He stated that he had made two or three uneventful landings prior to the accident. He said that, while floating down the runway, he was holding the airplane off the ground waiting for it to settle. He said that he did not pay sufficient attention to the airplane’s airspeed and it stalled about 10 to 15 feet above the runway. The airplane's nose dropped and the airplane impacted the ground nose first and skidded to a stop. He stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, including buckling of the fuselage and bending of both wing spars. ## Factual narrative During a telephone conversation, the student pilot said that he was a performing takeoffs and landings on his first solo flight when the accident occurred. He stated that he had made two or three uneventful landings prior to the accident. He said that while floating down the runway on the final landing, he was holding the airplane off the ground waiting for it to settle. He said that he did not pay the attention that he should have to the airplane’s airspeed and it stalled about 10 to 15 feet above the runway. The airplane's nose dropped and the airplane impacted the ground nose first and skidded to a stop. He stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane suffered substantial damage including buckling of the fuselage and bending of both wing spars. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5658W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5658W-2013-06-11), registration cancelled 2013-06-11, S/N 28-825, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-825 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: C15, Pekin, IL - Destination: C15, Pekin, IL - Airport: C15, Pekin Municipal Airport, runway 27, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 13 total, 13 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20110119004869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110119004869A), Jan 19, 2011: Piper PA-28-160, Forest City, IL, Substantial damage. During first solo, student pilot stalled aircraft a approximately 35 feet in the air and nosed down into runway. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78299. 44 KB in all. - Record of Conversation with pilot (item 1, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345025&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20pilot-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.