# NTSB FTW96LA233: Piper PA-28-161, N8275Z, Longview, TX, May 30, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 1996, 15:13 local (20:13 UTC) - Place: Longview, TX - Coordinates: 32.50904, -94.75914 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5090&lon=-94.7591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19854 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19854/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=19854 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA233 ## Probable cause an improper flare by the pilot rated student, while landing with a tailwind; and inadequate supervision by the flight instructor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - tailwind - flare - improper, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis A commercial pilot (student) was taking dual instruction with a flight instructor (CFI) aboard. They elected to make a power-off landing on runway 17. The wind at that time was reported to be from 010 degrees at 8 knots. While on the approach, the student initiated a forward slip to loose altitude. When the airplane came out of the slip, the speed was about 60 knots. As the airplane was being flared for landing, the nose dropped. The instructor said he applied power and tried to correct the situation, but the airplane touched down hard and was damaged. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 1996, at 1513 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8275Z, registered to and operated by Letourneau University as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing at Longview, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight instructor and commercial pilot rated student were not injured. The flight originated from Longview, Texas, about 1410, and was in the traffic pattern at Gregg County Airport at the time of the accident. According to the enclosed Pilot/Operator Report, the commercial pilot rated student was practicing power off landings to runway 17. During the second power off landing, the student pilot initiated a forward slip to lose altitude. As the airplane came out of the slip the indicated airspeed was 60 knots. The nose of the aircraft dropped and the flight instructor was unable to correct the nose low attitude. The aircraft impacted the runway damaging the left wing, firewall, fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and separating the landing gear. The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 010 degrees at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8275Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8275Z-1999-01-28), registration cancelled 1999-01-28, S/N 28-8316002 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8316002 - Airframe hours: 1418 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Letourneau University - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 29, 1996, 2 hours before - Departed: GGG - Airport: GGG, Gregg County, runway 17, 6,109 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,484 total, 1,117 in this make and model, 1,262 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19960530012119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960530012119A), May 30, 1996: Piper PA28161, Longview, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was practicing touch and go landings, lost airspeed, stalled on final approach, crash landed. (-23) on may 30, 1996, at 1513 central daylight time, a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 1996, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=19854. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (2) (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422801&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20%20(2)-Redacted.PDF - Supplement E (item 2, .PDF, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20E-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence From Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20From%20Pilot-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.