# NTSB ERA23LA029: Piper PA-28, N11NT, Montgomery, AL, October 14, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 14, 2022, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Montgomery, AL · On Airport
- Coordinates: 32.300046, -86.384316 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3000&lon=-86.3843&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: 1 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): 106165
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106165/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106165
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA029

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## 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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [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-28-180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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-28-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the student pilot, the airplane “slightly ballooned up” during the landing flare. This resulted in the nose landing gear impacting the ground “harder than normal.” The impact with the ground resulted in substantial damage to the engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N11NT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N11NT), registered now, S/N 28-7205193, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 (180)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7205193
- Year built: 1972
- Airframe hours: 5617.37
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2021
- Departed: 08A, Wetumpka, AL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MGM, Montgomery Rgnl (Dannelly Fld), runway 28, 9,020 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,640 total, 120 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KMGM, 1 nm away
- METAR: KMGM 142053Z 31006KT 10SM CLR 26/03 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP149 T02560033 56014

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20221014016189I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221014016189I), Oct 14, 2022: Piper PA-28-180, Montgomery, AL, Minor damage. Fixed wing student pilot was making an approach to runway 28 At mgm (Montgomery, AL) airport. Upon flaring to land, the aricraft ballooned. As the pilot…

## Other investigations on N11NT (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 CEN24LA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA191), May 18, 2024: Piper PA-28-180 (N11NT), Dell City, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to switch fuel tanks while en route which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106165. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14624389&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14625063&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N11NT%20Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 556 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14624551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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