# NTSB ERA26LA074: Piper PA-28-181, N472A, Fort Lauderdale, FL, December 16, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 16, 2025, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 26.071667, -80.149694 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0717&lon=-80.1497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2026 - 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): 202198 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202198/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202198 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA074 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose landing gear collapse. ## 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-28-181, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102807), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); 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: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that the student pilot began the landing flare too high, then suddenly pitched the airplane up 10 to 15 degrees. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and added engine power but the airplane landed hard, bounced, and began to porpoise down the runway, during which the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and engine mount. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N472A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N472A-2026-03-12), registration cancelled 2026-03-12, S/N 2843744, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102832) (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: 2843744 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 7988.7 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Archer Aircraft LLC, doing business as ATP Flight School - Registered owner: Archer Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 24, 2025, 29 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FXE, Fort Lauderdale Exec, runway 09/27, 6,002 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 38; injuries: none; sport pilot; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 16 total, 16 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 7, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 396 total, 341 in this make and model, 315 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 14 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: FLL - METAR: METAR KFLL 162153Z 06014G21KT 10SM SCT035 BKN050 22/14 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP198 T02220144 $ ## 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 20251216019059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251216019059A), Dec 16, 2025: Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-181, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Part 91 instructional flight in aircraft serial number 2843744 with two pilots. One was an instruct and one was a student. Was conducting touch and go's when… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202198. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19806611&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 683 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19797170&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-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.