# NTSB CEN25LA171: Piper PA28, N7951W, South Saint Paul, MN, May 5, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 5, 2025, 17:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: South Saint Paul, MN - Coordinates: 44.861629, -93.03486 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8616&lon=-93.0349&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200113 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200113/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200113 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA171 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inadvertent brake application during the touchdown, that resulted in abnormal runway contact and a loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot during the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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) - [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the instructional flight, the airplane was landing to the runway with the student pilot operating the flight controls. Upon touchdown, the airplane “swerved hard to the left.” The flight instructor immediately announced, “my controls” and he attempted to maintain directional control. He reported the loss of directional control happened “so fast” and that he was unable to recover the airplane. After the accident, the student pilot reported that he “may have had his feet on the brakes” upon touchdown. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount, with a bend in a truss tube. The flight instructor reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor further reported that in the future, he will be having new student pilots announce, “heels on the floor” during the landing flare, to prevent inadvertent brake application. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7951W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7951W), registered now, S/N 28-1998, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (180) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-1998 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 5421 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 2025, 6 hours before - Airport: SGS, South St Paul Muni/Richard E Fleming Fld, runway 16/34, 4,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 64; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 19, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 16,500 total, 122 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 30; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10 total, 5 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KSGS - METAR: KSGS 052255Z AUTO 15005KT 10SM CLR 24/01 A2996 RMK AO2 T02440011 ## 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 20250505005659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250505005659A), May 5, 2025: Piper PA-28-180, South Saint Pau, MN, Substantial damage. The PIC met the student pilot at the airport to let the student fly the pic’s Piper cherokee. The student had 6.5 hours total flying time, all in a Cessna 172.… ## Other investigations on N7951W (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC75DER39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC75DER39), Jan 15, 1975: Piper PA-28 (N7951W), Waseca, MN, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200113. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18787754&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 975 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18776000&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.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.