# NTSB ERA11CA497: Piper PA-28-161, N9249L, Okeechobee, FL, September 21, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 21, 2011, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Okeechobee, FL - Coordinates: 27.259721, -80.85028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2597&lon=-80.8503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81860 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA497 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81860/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81860 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA497 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath during a power-off landing and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [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) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); 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 certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and reduced the power to idle when the airplane was abeam the runway numbers in order to perform a power-off landing. The airplane slowed to glide speed, and the student pilot selected 10 degrees of flaps and turned onto the base leg. After turning onto final approach, the airplane's airspeed decreased to below 60 knots, and the CFI advised the student pilot to perform a go-around. The CFI then took control of the airplane to prevent an "imminent stall" and applied full power, but the airplane continued to descend. The airplane struck trees and a fence and then impacted the ground. The CFI subsequently reduced the power to idle and applied the brakes. However, the airplane struck another fence, turned 180 degrees, and came to rest in a grassy area to the left of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the accident sequence. The CFI did not report any preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot were on the second leg of a cross country flight when the student pilot entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern at an intermediate airport. The flight instructor directed the student pilot to perform a power-off landing, and power was reduced to idle when the airplane was abeam the runway numbers. The airplane slowed to glide speed, and the student pilot selected 10 degrees of flaps and turned it to the base leg of the traffic pattern. After turning onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane's airspeed decreased to below 60 knots, and the flight instructor advised the student pilot to perform a go around. The flight instructor then took control of the airplane to prevent an "imminent stall" and applied full power, but the airplane continued to descend. The airplane struck trees and a fence, then impacted the ground. The flight instructor subsequently reduced the power to idle and applied the brakes. However, the airplane struck another fence, turned 180 degrees, and came to rest in a grassy area to the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the accident sequence. The flight instructor did not report any preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9249L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9249L-2012-11-28), registration cancelled 2012-11-28, S/N 2841257, built 1989 (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: 2841257 - Airframe hours: 11787 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flightsafety International - Registered owner: Flightsafety International - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: AAIP, September 16, 2011 - Departed: PHK, Pahokee, FL - Destination: OBE, Okeechobee, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: OBE, Okeechobee County Airport, runway 14, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 964 total, 253 in this make and model, 871 as pilot in command, 132 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 31; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 38 total, 38 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 91 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: OBE ## 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 20110921024759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110921024759A), Sep 21, 2011: Piper PA-28-161, Okeechobee, FL, Substantial damage. On September 21, 2011 at approximately 16:00 local time, student pilot [privacy data omitted], accompanied by his flight instructor, [privacy data omitted] and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 10, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81860. 443 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354621&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Flight Instructor Statement (item 2, .PDF, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354623&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Left Wing Damage (Courtesy of Flight School) (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354625&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Left%20Wing%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20Flight%20School)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: View of Right Wing Damage (Courtesy of Flight School) (item 4, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354626&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20View%20of%20Right%20Wing%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20Flight%20School)-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.