# NTSB GAA18CA195: Piper PA24, N6785P, Knox, IN, March 21, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 21, 2018, 16:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Knox, IN - Coordinates: 41.325553, -86.662223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3256&lon=-86.6622&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96967 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96967/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96967 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA195 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a 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-24-250, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102404), [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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102404), [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-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, during landing, while the student pilot was flying, the airplane ballooned. He added that he took the flight controls and landed on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that, during landing, while the student pilot was flying, the airplane ballooned. He added that he took the flight controls and landed on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6785P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6785P-2021-05-08), registration cancelled 2021-05-08, S/N 24-1916, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA24 (250) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1916 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 6049.1 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2017 - Departed: 05C, GRIFFITH, IN - Destination: OXI, Knox, IN - Airport: OXI, Starke County, runway 36, 4,401 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 40; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 35 total, 7.3 in this make and model, 14.5 in the last 90 days, 4.3 in the last 30 days, 1.8 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 54; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,024 total, 15 in this make and model, 1,896.4 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 16 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KPPO, 15 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 20180321009779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180321009779A), Mar 21, 2018: Piper PA-24-250, Knox, IN, Substantial damage. Student instruction for aircraft owner. On about the 10th landing, the airplane ballooned and landed hard. The left wing was bent downward at about the halfway… ## Other investigations on N6785P (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 CEN19FA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA044), Dec 13, 2018: Piper PA24 (N6785P), Valparaiso, IN, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 23, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96967. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463434&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 658 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463435&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.