ERA10CA265

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-24-260B · Carrollton, GA · May 8, 2010

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
May 8, 2010, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
Place
Carrollton, GA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N9231PPiper PA-24-260B
Defining event
Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 12, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20100508055749A
Case key
76003

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

The pilot's improper touchdown point during landing. Contributing to the accident was the certificated flight instructor's lack of remedial action.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide pathAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedPiper PA-24-260: 2 casesAll aircraft: 809 casesProbable cause
Action: lack of actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilotPiper PA-24-260: 3 casesAll aircraft: 792 casesProbable cause
Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotPiper PA-24-260: 3 casesAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot had just purchased a share in the airplane and was receiving a checkout with a certified flight instructor for insurance purposes. While practicing a landing with a simulated engine failure, the airplane landed about 90 feet short of the runway pavement. As the airplane proceeded forward, the nosewheel struck the runway edge, collapsing the nose gear. The pilot initiated a go-around and, on the second landing attempt and with no nosewheel, the airplane skidded to a stop, substantially damaging the engine firewall. The pilot reported there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. According to the pilot the firewall damage was likely sustained as the landing gear crossed the edge of the runway pavement. The pilot also noted that the majority of his flight experience has been in high-wing aircraft, where it is easier to see the main gear and runway.

Factual narrative

The pilot had just purchased a one-third share in the airplane, and was receiving a "checkout" with a certified flight instructor for insurance purposes. While practicing a landing on runway 35 with a simulated engine failure, the airplane landed 88 feet short of the runway pavement. As the airplane proceeded forward, the nose wheel struck the runway edge, collapsing the nose gear. The pilot initiated a go-around and on the second landing attempt, with no nose wheel, the airplane skidded to a stop, substantially damaging the engine firewall. The pilot reported there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. According to the pilot, "it is likely; the damage to the aircraft was sustained during the simulated engine out landing as the landing gear crossed the edge of the runway pavement. A decision to execute our go around once we knew our simulated engine out landing was assured would have been advisable. Also, aiming for a landing point further down the runway as opposed to the end of the runway would have prevented this accident. Although I have logged a considerable amount of flying hours, the greatest majority of it has been in a Cessna 210 and other high wing aircraft where it is visually easy to see the main gear and runway. My lack of low wing aircraft time and visual landing perspective in these aircraft are most likely a factor as well."

Aircraft

Registration
N9231P
Reported as
Piper PA-24-260B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
24-4729
Airframe hours
7,192
Engine
Lycoming IO-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · December 10, 2009 · 12 hours before
Departed
CTJ · Carrollton, GA
Destination
CTJ · Carrollton, GA
Airport
CTJ · West Georgia Regional Airport, runway 35, 5,503 × 100 ft, asphalt

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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
48
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 21, 2010
Seat
Left
Flight hours
3,157 total · 3 in this make and model · 3,052 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Flight instructor
Age
65
Injuries
None
Certificates
Private, Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Right
Flight hours
3,153 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
300° at 10 knots, gusting 15
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.09 inHg
Observed at
CTJ

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 485 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.