# NTSB GAA17CA099: Piper PA38, N250YA, Hartford, CT, December 23, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 23, 2016, 13:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place: Hartford, CT
- Coordinates: 41.733333, -72.649444 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7333&lon=-72.6494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94532/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94532
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA099

## Probable cause

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

## 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-38-112, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103812), [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-38-112, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103812), [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-38-112, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, during the initial landing, the airplane bounced. During a subsequent touchdown, the nose gear impacted the runway with a side load, and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid to a stop in a nose-down attitude on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that during the initial landing, the airplane bounced. During a subsequent touchdown, the nose gear impacted the runway with a side load and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid to a stop in a nose down attitude on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot reported there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N250YA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N250YA-2020-05-01), registration cancelled 2020-05-01, S/N 38-79A0341, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA38 (112)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 39-79A0341
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 5368
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 8, 2016
- Departed: POU, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
- Destination: HFD, Hartford, CT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: HFD, Hartford-Brainard, runway 20, 4,417 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 19; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 37 total, 37 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observed at: KHFD

## 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 20161223024429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161223024429A), Dec 23, 2016: Piper PA-38-112, Hartford, CT, Substantial damage. On December 23 student pilot zi jie siaw piloted N250YA from kpou to khfd. At approximately 1300 LCL, while attempting landing on runway 20 with a 5 knot…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 21, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94532. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 942 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449424&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident photo (item 2, .PDF, 499 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449426&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20photo-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.

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