# NTSB ERA21LA139: Piper PA-28-181, N885AC, Fort Pierce, FL, February 22, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 22, 2021, 09:57 local (14:57 UTC)
- Place: Fort Pierce, FL · KFPR Airport
- Coordinates: 27.497472, -80.372639 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4975&lon=-80.3726&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA / FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102680
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA139
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102680/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102680
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA139

## Probable cause

The pilot under instruction’s improper landing flare and attempted go-around which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, and subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

## 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; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot under instruction was undergoing a stage check. On what was to be the last landing, the pilot was to perform a short field landing. As the airplane approached the runway, the pilot initiated the landing flare too high. The stall warning horn annunciated, and the flight instructor instructed the pilot to execute a go around. However, the pilot did not add power, so the flight instructor took over the flight controls, and added full power. The flight instructor tried to recover, but the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall, started turning into the wind, and directional control of the airplane was lost. The airplane then started descending and yawing to the right, and the airplane touched down hard coming to rest on the grass off the right side of the runway. The airplane’s left wing and stabilator were substantially damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N885AC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N885AC), registered now, S/N 2881396, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4m) (registry code 42276, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2881396
- Year built: 2020
- Airframe hours: 235.4
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Ari Ben Aviator Inc, doing business as AVIATOR COLLEGE of Aeronautical Science & Technology
- Registered owner: Ari Ben Aviator Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 2, 2021, 38.9 hours before
- Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL
- Airport: FPR, Treasure Coast Intl, runway 10L/28R, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, remote; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 21, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,677 total, 252 in this make and model, 1,539 as pilot in command, 256 in the last 90 days, 102 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 21, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 177 total, 72 in this make and model, 91 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: FPR, 1.16 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 20210222000289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210222000289A), Feb 22, 2021: Piper PA-28-181, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. They were on a stage check flight at kfpr. While on the last landing, they was doing a short Field landing. As they approached the runway they started flaring…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102680. 18.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 8.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12246134&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight instructor and pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 354 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12247047&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20and%20Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Kfpr - airport diagram (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12246668&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=KFPR%20-%20Airport%20Diagram-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 4, PDF, 16 pages, 9.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12246788&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Operator's visual damage assessment (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12247234&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operator%27s%20Visual%20Damage%20Assessment-Rel.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.

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