# NTSB CHI02LA015: Piper PA-28R-201, N6899C, Lapeer, MI, October 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 28, 2001, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Lapeer, MI - Coordinates: 43.039169, -83.320571 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0392&lon=-83.3206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53694 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53694/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA015 ## Probable cause the touchdown aim point not attained by the pilot rated student and the remedial action not performed by the flight instructor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper touchdown point - not attained, dual student (cause) - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt - lack of certification, pilot in command(cfi) - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The airplane landed short of the runway during an instructional flight for a complex airplane endorsement. The flight instructor reported his safety recommendations as: change the runway aiming point for students, be more forceful with increase power requests, and review procedures with students during preflight. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the flight instructor's medical certificate was expired. The flight instructor previously received a warning letter from the FAA on September 1, 1999 for instructing and acting as pilot-in-command without a valid medical certificate. The owner of the flight school where the instructor was employed stated that he does not check the validity of his flight instructors' pilot or medical certificate information and was unaware that the accident flight instructor did not possess a valid medical certificate. ## Factual narrative On October 28, 2001, at 1030 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-201, N6899C, operated by Sutton Aviation Incorporated, was substantially damaged during final approach to runway 27 (1,900 feet by 150 feet, turf) at the Dupont-Lapeer Airport (D95), Lapeer, Michigan. The airplane impacted terrain approximately 100 feet short of runway 27's approach end. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The private pilot and the flight instructor reported no injuries. The local flight originated at 1000. The private pilot was receiving instruction towards a complex airplane endorsement. The flight instructor reported in a written statement that they had performed three landings on runway 18 and then changed to runway 27 where they abandoned their first approach. During their second approach, they landed approximately 50 feet short of runway 27. The airplane skidded on the runway centerline for approximately 150 feet and then came to a stop. The flight instructor also reported his safety recommendations as, change the runway aiming point for students, be more forceful with increase power requests and review these procedures with students during preflight. The 61-year old flight instructor received a second-class medical certificate on September 10, 1999. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the flight instructor's medical certificate expired on September 30, 2001. The flight instructor obtained a new second class medical certificate on October 30, 2001. The flight instructor previously received a warning letter from the FAA on September 1, 1999 for instructing and acting as pilot-in-command without a valid medical certificate. The owner of Sutton Aviation stated that his flight instructors are independent employees and he does not check the validity of their pilot certificate or medical certificate information. He also stated that he was not aware that the flight instructor's medical certificate was expired. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6899C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6899C-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N 28R-7837176, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-201 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7837176 - Airframe hours: 9597.5 - Engines: Lycoming IO360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sutton Aviation Incorporated - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 18, 2001, 2.3 hours before - Departed: D95, Lapeer, MI - Destination: D95, Lapeer, MI - Airport: D95, Dupont-Lapeer, runway 27, 1,900 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 61; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; last flight review July 31, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 4,310 total, 400 in this make and model, 4,170 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 21, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 105 total, 4 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.51 inHg - Observed at: FNT, 22 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 20011028030629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011028030629A), Oct 28, 2001: Piper PA28R201, Lapeer, MI, No damage. (-23) Pilot and instructor was practicing takeoff and landings on hard surface runway 18 which were performed successfully. They then transitioned to the grass… ## Other investigations on N6899C (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 CEN19CA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19CA017), Oct 28, 2018: Piper PA28R (N6899C), Hobbs, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's incorrect altimeter setting during the night visual approach, which resulted in a controlled flight into terrain. 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.