# NTSB GAA18CA589: Piper PA28R, N9368N, Camarillo, CA, April 23, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 23, 2018, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Camarillo, CA - Coordinates: 34.213611, -119.094444 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2136&lon=-119.0944&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99956 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA589 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99956/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99956 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA589 ## 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-28R-200, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102811), [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-28R-200, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102811), [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-28R-200, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor in the retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that, while demonstrating a touch-and-go landing to a pilot receiving instruction, he reduced the power, and the airplane then descended and landed hard. The pilot then assumed control of the airplane and conducted two additional landings without further incident. However, postaccident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The instructor also reported that the pilot's landings were smoother than his; therefore, the damage likely occurred during the instructor's landing. The 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 in a retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that, while demonstrating a touch and go landing to a pilot receiving instruction, he reduced the power, the airplane descended and landed "harder than standard." The pilot receiving instruction then assumed control of the airplane and conducted two additional landings without further incident. The flight instructor further reported that the pilot receiving instruction's landings were smoother than his. Postaccident examination by chief pilot revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right 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: [N9368N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9368N), registered now, S/N 28R-35076, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28R (200) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-35076 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 7787.99 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-CIC 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Camarillo Flight Instruction - Registered owner: Sky Shares Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 12, 2018 - Departed: CMA, Camarillo, CA - Destination: CMA, Camarillo, CA - Airport: CMA, Camarillo, runway 26, 6,013 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 67; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 21, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,100 total, 50 in this make and model - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KCMA, 1 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 20180423023909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180423023909A), Apr 23, 2018: Piper PA-28R-200, Camarillo, CA, Substantial damage. Vny FSDO received an anonymous hotline complaint, dated 06/17/2019. The complaint alleged N9368N has possible substantial damage to the wing spar from a hard… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99956. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 833 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476297&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Phone Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476298&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Damage Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476299&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damage%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.