- Date
- July 17, 1998, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Leland, IL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N75HMPiper PA-25-235
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 19, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980717044959A
- Case key
- 43658
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
Control interference between the pilot-in-command and the student. An excessive descent rate and inadequate flare by the student during landing are contributing factors. The inadequate supervision by the pilot-in-command is an additional factor.
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
The student reported that he was told to release the control stick when it was yanked upon by the instructor. During the student's fourth landing, the aircraft bounced and the instructor yanked the stick. The student reported that he released the stick and the instructor took control of the airplane. It was also stated by the student that when the instructor took the stick, the instructor said, give me the stick. The instructor applied full power after the bounce and continued 2/3 down the runway a little nose high. The student also observed the airspeed to be 50 KIAS. The nose pitched upwards and the airplane stalled. The right wing dropped and the nose impacted the ground. The instructor reported that the student bounced the landing and applied full aft control. The instructor called out, 'my controls', but the stick remained in the full aft position. The instructor attempted to fly the aircraft with throttle and rudder. Inspection of the elevator control system found no anomalies.
Factual narrative
On July 17, 1998, at 0800 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N75HM, piloted by a commercial pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during landing on runway 25 (2500' x 100', turf) at Leland Field near Leland, Illinois. The aircraft bounced and made a hard landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 agricultural instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The student reported minor injuries. The local flight departed Leland Field at 0750.
In a written statement, the student reported that he had enrolled in the instructor's agricultural pilot training program. The commercial rated student stated that his total flight time was 300 hours, three hours of which were in the accident airplane. The student did not possess a tail wheel endorsement. The lesson plan was to practice takeoff and landings. The student was told to release the control stick when it was yanked upon by the instructor. During the student's third landing, the aircraft bounced, the instructor yanked the control stick and reentered the traffic pattern, at which time he released the controls to the student. During the student's fourth landing, the aircraft bounced, the instructor yanked the control stick and the student released the controls. It was also stated by the student that when the instructor took the control stick, the instructor said, give me the stick, and applied full power. The student observed the airspeed to be 50 KIAS. The airplane continued 2/3 down the runway a little nose high. The nose then pitched upwards and the airplane stalled. The right wing dropped and the nose impacted the ground.
The instructor reported that the student bounced the landing and applied full aft control. The instructor called out, "my controls", but the stick remained in the full aft position. The instructor attempted to fly the aircraft with throttle and rudder.
Inspection of the elevator control system by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found no anomalies. A functional check showed full up and down travel of the elevator system.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N75HM
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-7556182
- Airframe hours
- 2,201
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Harold Miller
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 9, 1998 · 17 hours before
- Airport
- E16 · Leland, runway 25, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- 55
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 18,500 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 18,000 as pilot in command · 300 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DPA, 26 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.
Other investigations on N75HM · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.