# NTSB DEN85LA162: Piper PA-28-180N, N4760L, Delta, UT, June 13, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 12, 1985, 20:30 local (Jun 13, 1985, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Delta, UT
- Coordinates: 39.28955, -112.559539 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2895&lon=-112.5595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16702
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA162
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16702/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA162

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - level off - not corrected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS FLOWN BY A STUDENT PLT AND HIS INSTRUCTOR ON A LOCAL TNG FLT. DURING LANDING THE SUTDENT PLT DID NOT FLAIR THE ACFT IN TIME, HIT HARD AND BOUNCED. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL, MADE A SOFT LANDING FOLLOWED BY THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSING. THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, HOWEVER, THE OCCUPANTS WERE NOT INJURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4760L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4760L), registered now, S/N 28-4091, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180N
- 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: 28-4091
- Airframe hours: 3049
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 17, 1985, 31 hours before
- Departed: DTA, DELTA, UT
- Airport: DTA, Delta Municipal, runway 34, 6,011 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,924 total, 574 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: U24

## 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 19850612024689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850612024689A), Jun 12, 1985: Piper PA28180, Delta, UT, Substantial damage. Student bounced, instructor made 2nd landing. Left main gear failed. Scissor bolt had stripped threads, came loose.

## Other investigations on N4760L (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 FTW98LA370](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA370), Aug 22, 1998: Piper PA-28-180 (N4760L), Hurricane, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot inadvertently inducing a porpoise oscillation, and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the excessive landing airspeed.

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.

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