- Date
- May 3, 1996, 17:58 local (22:58 UTC)
- Place
- Layfayette, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2364NPiper PA-38
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 3, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960503009309A
- Case key
- 10243
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
In her written statement, the pilot reported that she flew final approach at 70 knots, and when she landed the airplane, 'it bounced up to a considerable height.' During the recovery, she 'let it sink before flaring.' On the second touchdown, the nose gear collapsed. The propeller impacted the runway, and the nose of the airplane sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.
Factual narrative
On May 3, 1996, at 1748 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-38, N2364N, registered to Lafayette Aviation, was substantially damaged during landing in Lafayette, Indiana. The solo student pilot reported no injuries. The local, instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
In her written statement, the pilot reported that she flew final approach at 70 knots and when she landed the airplane "it bounced up to a considerable height." During the recovery she "let it sink before flaring." On the second touchdown, the nose gear collapsed. The propeller impacted the runway and the nose of the airplane sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2364N
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-79A0810
- Airframe hours
- 5,151
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lafayette Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 5, 1996 · 69 hours before
- Departed
- LAF
- Airport
- LAF · Purdue University, runway 23, 3,900 × 100 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 18
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 52 total · 19 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LAF
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.