# NTSB GAA17CA120: Piper PA28, N56809, St. Louis, MO, November 27, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 27, 2016, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: St. Louis, MO - Coordinates: 38.721942, -90.508888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7219&lon=-90.5089&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 4, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94636 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94636/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94636 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA120 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102802), [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-28-140, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102802), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, "the airplane bounced a couple times," and the propeller struck the runway. He then taxied to the ramp without further incident. During a postaccident examination, substantial damage was found to the engine mounts and fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that during landing "the airplane bounced a couple times" and the propeller struck the runway. The student pilot further reported that he taxied to the ramp without further incident. During a postaccident examination, substantial damage was found to the engine mounts and fuselage. The student pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56809](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56809), registered now, S/N 28-7425041 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (140) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7425041 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 8418.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Gateway Flight Training LLC. - Registered owner: Eight Zero Nine Corp LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 18, 2016 - Departed: 1H0, St. Louis, MO - Destination: 1H0, St. Louis, MO - Airport: 1H0, Creve Coeur, runway 16, 4,500 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 59; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 31.7 total, 31.7 in this make and model, 1.2 as pilot in command, 31.7 in the last 90 days, 8.3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KSTL, 7 nm away ## 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 20161127023679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161127023679A), Nov 27, 2016: Piper PA-28-140, St. Louis, MO, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Student pilot arrived at Creve Coeur Airport at 10 am. There was no one around but him. He conducted a thorough preflight of the… ## Other investigations on N56809 (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 CHI74AC097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC097), Jun 18, 1974: Piper PA-28 (N56809), Manito, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94636. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 992 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449922&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 311 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449923&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.