# NTSB DEN99LA150: Piper PA-28-181, N8262S, Tooele, UT, August 17, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 1999, 16:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Tooele, UT - Coordinates: 40.569103, -112.330696 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5691&lon=-112.3307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 23, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47079 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47079/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA150 ## Probable cause An inadequate flare during landing touchdown, resulting in a fracture of the right main landing gear strut. A factor was the flight instructor's failure to properly supervise the student. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - inadequate, dual student (cause) - landing gear,main gear strut - fractured (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - flight to destination alternate - performed, pilot in command(cfi) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, emergency landing - landing gear,main gear - failure,total ## Analysis The instructor and his student were performing touch and go landings on runway 34 at Tooele. During the first landing, the student was at the controls and 'bounced a medium hard landing.' They continued in the traffic pattern and the student made a second hard landing. A witness on the ground notified the instructor via the radio that the right main landing gear appeared to be bent aft. They returned to Salt Lake City where emergency ground crews would be available. The instructor performed an emergency landing on runway 35. As the aircraft rolled out, the right landing gear bent aft and separated from the airplane. In the instructor's accident report, he stated that he believed that the aircraft's right landing gear strut had metal fatigue prior to the accident. However, according to several FAA inspectors who visually inspected the aircraft following the accident, no evidence of fatigue failure was found. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 1999, approximately 1615 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8262S, was substantially damaged during two hard landings at Bolinder Field-Tooele Valley Airport, Tooele, Utah. The airline transport pilot certificated flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The instructional flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Salt Lake City International Airport, Salt Lake City, Utah, 30 minutes before the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to the instructor, he and his student were performing touch and go landings on runway 34. During the first landing, the student was at the controls and "bounced a medium hard landing." The instructor stated that he took control of the aircraft and briefed the student on proper touchdown procedures. They continued in the traffic pattern and performed another touch and go landing. The student was at the controls and during the second landing, he "hit a little hard again." A witness on the ground observed that N8262S's landing gear was damaged, and notified the instructor via the airport's UNICOM (Universal Integrated Communication) frequency. According the instructor, he discontinued the lesson and took the controls. The instructor performed a low pass over the runway, and another witness confirmed that the right main landing gear was bent aft approximately 10 degrees. The instructor made the decision to return to the Salt Lake City airport where emergency ground crews would be available. During the flight back to Salt Lake City, he was able to view the right wing strut from the cockpit and noticed that it was bent. He notified the airport that the aircraft's landing gear would most likely fail during landing. The instructor performed an emergency landing on runway 35. He landed the aircraft on its left side, then slowly lowered the right landing gear onto the runway. As the aircraft rolled out, the right landing gear bent aft and separated from the airplane. The aircraft came to rest on its right side, resting on the right wing. In the instructor's accident report, he stated that he believed that the aircraft's right landing gear strut had metal fatigue prior to the accident. However, according to several FAA inspectors who visually inspected the aircraft following the accident, no evidence of fatigue failure was found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8262S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8262S), registered now, S/N 28-8190035, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-8190035 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Proflight - Registered owner: Badger & Company Lc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Destination: TVY - Airport: TVY, Bolinder Field-Tooele, runway 34, 5,498 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 20 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 19990817012509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990817012509A), Aug 17, 1999: Piper PA28181, Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. Visual inspection via low approach at tooele, pilot reported he had experienced a couple of hard landings at tooele. Visual check confirmed gear damage. (.19)… ## Other investigations on N8262S (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 SEA93LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA136), Jun 20, 1993: Piper PA-28-181 (N8262S), Provo, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE WILD ANIMALS ON THE RUNWAY. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS. 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.