# NTSB GAA18CA551: Piper PA28, N212NA, Cypress, TX, September 1, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 1, 2018, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Cypress, TX - Coordinates: 29.935277, -95.640274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9353&lon=-95.6403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98292 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA551 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98292/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98292 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA551 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper approach path after the airplane encountered turbulence, which resulted in the airplane landing hard short of the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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) - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during approach, as the airplane crossed over a highway, it encountered turbulence and increased lift. He reduced power to correct, and the airplane lost altitude quickly. The student added power to compensate, but the airplane landed hard before reaching the runway, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located about 7 miles south of the airport reported that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 090° at 5 knots. The student was landing the airplane on runway 9. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that, during approach, as he crossed over a highway, the airplane encountered turbulence and increased lift. He reduced power to correct, and the airplane lost altitude quickly. The student added power to compensate, but the airplane landed hard before reaching the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located about 7 miles to the south of the accident airport reported that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 090° at 5 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 9. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N212NA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N212NA-2019-08-28), registration cancelled 2019-08-28, S/N 28-7916150, built 1978 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7916150 - Year built: 1978 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: EYQ, Cypress, TX - Destination: EYQ, Cypress, TX - Airport: EYQ, Weiser Air Park, runway 09, 3,455 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 39 total, 39 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KIWS, 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 20180901024329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180901024329A), Sep 1, 2018: Piper PA-28-161, Cypress, TX, Substantial damage. Student pilot reported that during final approache he landed short of rundway. The aircraft suffered substantial damage during impact to the ground. No… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98292. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469274&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 558 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469275&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. --- 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.