# NTSB CEN14CA488: Piper PA 28-140, N6693W, Belen, NM, September 8, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 8, 2014, 13:29 local (19:29 UTC) - Place: Belen, NM - Coordinates: 34.645, -106.831665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6450&lon=-106.8317&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90042 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA488 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90042/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90042 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA488 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102802), [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-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md) ## Analysis On the student pilot's second solo landing the airplane landed hard and bounced twice. The flight instructor, standing on the side of the runway, radioed instructions to "go-around". The student pilot then applied full power, applied right rudder and retracted one notch of flaps. The flight instructor observed the airplane was then in a steep nose up stalling pitch attitude. He radioed instructions to "pitch down, pitch down", and with the airplane very low to the ground and drifting left, the student pilot radioed back asking the flight instructor to "say again". Control was lost and the airplane impacted a hangar about 650 feet to the left of runway center line. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, tail surfaces, and both wings which were completely separated as the airplane penetrated the hangar wall. The fuselage came to rest inside the closed hangar and there was no postimpact fire. The student pilot reported that had attempted the go-around with too much pitch, too little speed, and not enough rudder input. He also reported that the accident would not have happened if he had spent more of his attention "flying the plane" and less attention communicating on the radio during a critical phase of flight. Additionally, the student pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On the student pilot's second solo landing the airplane landed hard and bounced twice. The flight instructor, standing on the side of the runway, radioed instructions to "go-around". The student pilot then applied full power, applied right rudder and retracted one notch of flaps. The flight instructor observed the airplane was then in a steep nose up stalling pitch attitude. He radioed instructions to "pitch down, pitch down", and with the airplane very low to the ground and drifting left, the student pilot radioed back asking the flight instructor to "say again". Control was lost and the airplane impacted a hangar about 650 feet to the left of runway center line. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, tail surfaces, and both wings which were completely separated as the airplane penetrated the hangar wall. The fuselage came to rest inside the closed hangar and there was no postimpact fire. The student pilot reported that had attempted the go-around with too much pitch, too little speed, and not enough rudder input. He also reported that the accident would not have happened if he had spent more of his attention "flying the plane" and less attention communicating on the radio during a critical phase of flight. Additionally, the student pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6693W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6693W-2016-03-10), registration cancelled 2016-03-10, S/N 28-21284, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-21284 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 10300 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 10, 2014 - Departed: E80, Belen, NM - Destination: E80, Belen, NM - Airport: E80, Alexander Muni, runway 21, 6,601 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 7, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 19 total, 19 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KE80 ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 15, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90042. 10.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - CFI (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420001&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20CFI-Redacted.PDF - Map with Flight Instructor's Comments (item 2, .PDF, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420002&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20with%20Flight%20Instructor%27s%20Comments-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Student Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420003&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Student%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Map with Student Pilot's Comments (item 4, .PDF, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420004&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20with%20Student%20Pilot%27s%20Comments-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage Entry Point into Hangar (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420005&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20Entry%20Point%20into%20Hangar%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Wreckage From Inside Hangar (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420006&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Wreckage%20From%20Inside%20Hangar%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.