# NTSB ERA09CA484: Piper PA-34, N47611, Savannah, GA, August 25, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 25, 2009, 17:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Savannah, GA - Coordinates: 32.127498, -81.202224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1275&lon=-81.2022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74603 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA484 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74603/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74603 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA484 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during landing and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, resulting in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot were returning to the airport for landing after practicing maneuvers. The student pilot was flying the airplane and after a normal approach, just prior to touchdown on the runway, he abruptly pulled back on the control yoke. The airplane climbed approximately 10 feet as the flight instructor assumed control and pushed the control yoke forward. The airplane subsequently landed hard, which resulted in damage to the nose gear, the right engine propeller, and the nose cone structure at the base of the windshield. The flight instructor further stated that he did not experience any flight control malfunctions and weather was not a factor during the accident. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor and student pilot were returning to the airport for landing after practicing maneuvers. According to the flight instructor, the airplane experienced a partial loss of communication radios en route and was cleared to land using light signals. The student pilot was flying the airplane and after a normal approach, just prior to touchdown on the runway, he abruptly pulled back on the control yoke. The airplane climbed approximately 10 feet as the flight instructor assumed control and pushed the control yoke forward. The airplane subsequently landed hard, which resulted in damage to the nose gear, the right engine propeller, and the nose cone structure at the base of the windshield. The flight instructor further stated that he did not experience any flight control malfunctions and weather was not a factor during the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47611](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47611-2015-11-16), registration cancelled 2015-11-16, S/N 34-7770418, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34 (200T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7770418 - Airframe hours: 8228 - Engines: Teledyne Continental TSIO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating; Teledyne Continental LTSIO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Coastal Empire Flight Training LLC - Registered owner: Marc Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2009, 22 hours before - Departed: SAV, Savannah, GA - Destination: SAV, Savannah, GA - Airport: SAV, Savannah/ Hilton Head Airport, runway 19, 7,002 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 14, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 477 total, 76 in this make and model, 426 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 19, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,134 total, 2 in this make and model, 81 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: SAV ## 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 20090825048599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090825048599A), Aug 25, 2009: Piper PA-34-200T, Savannah, GA, Substantial damage. August 26, 2009 inspected the aircraft at the costal empire flight training facility located at the Savannah airport (sav) Savannah ga. The subject aircraft a… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74603. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319249&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Instructor Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Instructor%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319259&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 4, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Weather Observations (item 5, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations-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.