# NTSB ERA11CA187: Piper PA-28-161, N2838D, Oxford, CT, March 12, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 12, 2011, 13:05 local (18:05 UTC) - Place: Oxford, CT - Coordinates: 41.478332, -73.135002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4783&lon=-73.1350&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78539 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78539/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA187 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate landing flare and the certified flight instructor's inadequate remedial action, resulting in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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-28-161, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, he was practicing crosswind landings with his certified flight instructor (CFI) when they planned to perform a full stop landing on runway 36. The airplane touched down hard in a level attitude and the CFI moved his hand to the throttle to add engine power but was too late. After impacting the runway, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. After reviewing a security video of the accident, the airport manager reported that the airplane did not flare prior to landing. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The reported wind conditions at an the airport around the time of the accident were variable from 240 degrees to 310 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 17 knots. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, he was practicing crosswind landings with his flight instructor when they planned to perform a full stop landing on runway 36. Both pilots stated that they maintained 70 knots on final approach, and the airplane landed "flat." The flight instructor stated that he moved his hand to the throttle to add power but it was too late. After impacting the runway, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. After reviewing a security video of the accident, the airport manager reported that the airplane did not flare prior to landing. During a subsequent examination of the wreckage, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found no anomalies of the airplane. The winds reported at an the airport around the time of the accident were variable from 240 degrees to 310 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 17 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2838D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2838D), registered now, S/N 28-7916463, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7916463 - Airframe hours: 13999 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 13, 2011 - Departed: OXC, Oxford, CT - Destination: OXC, Oxford, CT - Airport: OXC, Waterbury-Oxford Airport, runway 36, 5,800 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 78; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 5,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 4,550 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 47; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 87 total, 79 in this make and model, 17 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: OXC ## 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 20110312003409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110312003409A), Mar 12, 2011: Piper PA-28-161, Oxford, CT, Substantial damage. On March 12, 2011 at approximately 1305 local time, a Piper cherokee, PA-28-161, N2838D, experienced a nose low landing which resulted in substantial damage to… ## Other investigations on N2838D (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 ERA11LA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA264), Apr 22, 2011: Piper PA-28-161 (N2838D), Meriden, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel's inadequate inspection of the main landing gear, which resulted in a failure of the right main landing gear’s inboard torque link lug due to a fatigue fracture. Contributing to… 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.