# NTSB ERA22LA435: Piper PA-28R-200, N1434T, Clearwater, FL, September 26, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 26, 2022, 22:00 UTC - Place: Clearwater, FL · airport - Coordinates: 27.977214, -82.759057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9772&lon=-82.7591&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: 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): 106142 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA435 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106142/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106142 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA435 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. 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. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102811), [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-28R-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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-28R-200, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, at the conclusion of the checkout flight he and the pilot were returning to the airport for landing. The instructor described that the pilot’s approach was stable until he began the landing flare too high, at an estimated altitude of about 20 feet. The flight instructor told the pilot to execute a go-around and then attempted to take over the flight controls. He was unable to recover before the airplane landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The flight instructor stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1434T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1434T), registered now, S/N 28R-7235288, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7235288 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 5463.91 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Tampa Bay Aviation Inc, doing business as Tampa Bay Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Strickland Jason - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CLW, Clearwater Air Park, runway 34, 4,108 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 529 total, 168 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2021; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,050 total, 61 in this make and model, 950 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: CLW - METAR: KCLW 022255Z AUTO 04008KT 10SM SCT050 BKN085 28/21 A3005 RMK AO2 ## Other investigations on N1434T (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 MIA74DKJ27](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA74DKJ27), Oct 5, 1973: Piper PA-28R (N1434T), Tuscaloosa, AL, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106142. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14643977&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA435-6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14744116&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FSDO-MFR-ERA22LA435_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 716 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14744106&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA435-Photos-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. --- 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.