# NTSB ERA09CA287: Piper PA-28-140, N8403R, Danville, PA, May 11, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 11, 2009, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Danville, PA - Coordinates: 40.948612, -76.642776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9486&lon=-76.6428&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73827 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73827/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73827 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA287 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain control during a landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was landing at the conclusion of a cross-country solo flight. He reported that he encountered windshear about 3 feet above Runway 27, which caused a loss of control and he touched down on the nosewheel. A certificated flight instructor, who witnessed the accident, stated that the airplane was "about 20-30 feet" and began an "abrupt descent." The airplane impacted the runway hard. The impact resulted in a serious injury to the student pilot and minor damage to the airplane. The winds reported at an airport 12 miles southwest of the accident location, about the time of the accident, were variable from 330 degrees to 060 degrees at 7 knots. Neither the student pilot nor a Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported any preexisting mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. The student pilot reported 87 hours of flight experience in the same make and model as the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was landing at the conclusion of a cross-country solo flight. The student pilot reported that he encountered windshear about 3 feet above runway 27, which caused a loss of control and touchdown on the nose wheel. A certificated flight instructor, who witnessed the accident, stated that the airplane was "about 20-30 feet" and began an "abrupt descent." The airplane impacted the runway hard. The impact resulted in a serious injury to the student pilot and minor damage to the airplane. The winds reported at an airport 12 miles southwest of the accident location, about the time of the accident, were variable from 330 degrees to 060 degrees at 7 knots. Neither the student pilot nor a Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. The student pilot reported 87 hours of flight experience in the same make and model as the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8403R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8403R), registered now, S/N 28-22280, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-22280 - Airframe hours: 3948 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 9, 2008 - Departed: N12, Lakewood, NJ - Destination: 8N8, Danville, PA - Airport: 8N8, Danville Airport, runway 27, 3,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 93 total, 87 in this make and model, 22 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: SEG, 12 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 20090511010689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090511010689A), May 11, 2009: Piper PA28140, Danville, PA, Minor damage. (-23) Student pilot stalled aircraft over runway approximately 30' high. Aircraft contacted the runway in a nose low, left wing down attitude. Nosewheel and… ## Other investigations on N8403R (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 MIA76DLD13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA76DLD13), Nov 17, 1975: Piper PA-28 (N8403R), Englewood, FL, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73827. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 504 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Witness Interviews Memo (item 2, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313681&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Witness%20Interviews%20Memo-Redacted.PDF - FAA Written statement (item 3, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314619&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Written%20statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report - SEG METAR (item 4, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313682&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report%20-%20SEG%20METAR-Master.PDF - Photo From FAA - Damage to Airplane (item 5, .PDF, 369 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313685&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20From%20FAA%20-%20Damage%20to%20Airplane-Master.PDF - Photo From FAA - Damage to Propeller (item 6, .PDF, 317 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313686&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20From%20FAA%20-%20Damage%20to%20Propeller-Master.PDF 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.