# NTSB GAA18CA092: Piper PA28, N284MK, Mankato, MN, December 20, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 20, 2017, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Mankato, MN - Coordinates: 44.222499, -93.917778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2225&lon=-93.9178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96521/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96521 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA092 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and subsequent go-around during which the student exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102803), [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-28-161, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/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); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane bounced hard. She added power to go around, and as the airplane became airborne, it began to drift to the left. The airplane aerodynamically stalled, impacted terrain, and collided with a golf cart adjacent to the runway, which was occupied by the student pilot's flight instructor. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The chief pilot of the flight school reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, about 4 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 080° at 6 knots. The airplane landed on runway 33. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane bounced hard. She added power to go around, and as the airplane became airborne it began to drift to the left. The airplane aerodynamically stalled, impacted terrain, and collided with a golf cart adjacent the runway, which was occupied by the student pilot's flight instructor. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The Chief Pilot of the flight school reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 4 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 080° at 6 knots. The airplane landed on runway 33. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N284MK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N284MK), registered now, S/N 2842135 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (161) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2842135 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 7745.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: North Star Aviation Inc - Registered owner: North Star Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 14, 2017 - Departed: MKT, Mankato, MN - Destination: MKT, Mankato, MN - Airport: MKT, Mankato Rgnl, runway 33, 6,600 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 19 total, 19 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KMKT ## 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 20171220023449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171220023449A), Dec 20, 2017: Piper PA-28-161, Mankato, MN, Substantial damage. Student's first solo flight - second landing resulted in attempted go-around. Go-around maneuver brought quick excessive pitch and stall near runway. Aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96521. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 957 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.