# NTSB IAD04CA038: Piper PA-28R-180, N4631J, Eliot, ME, August 17, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 17, 2004, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Eliot, ME - Coordinates: 43.143054, -70.772224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1431&lon=-70.7722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 59925 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD04CA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59925/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04CA038 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed above stall which resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the landing gear. Also causal was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - level off - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear - collapsed ## Analysis While turning to align with the runway during a simulated forced landing, the airplane overshot the runway, and the turn was continued to the right to come back to the landing surface. The flight instructor and the pilot each reported that about 6 feet above the runway, the airplane "stalled", "plummeted", and experienced a hard landing. The airplane shook during the landing roll, then veered right and departed the landing surface. The landing gear collapsed, the airplane came to rest, and the instructor and pilot egressed the airplane. When asked if they experienced any problems with the performance or handling of the airplane, each said no. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2004, at 1350 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N4631J, was substantially damaged during a hard landing and gear collapse at the Littlebrook Airport (3B4), Elliot, Maine. The certificated private pilot and certificated flight instructor were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight that originated at the Sanford Airport (SFM), about 1330. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and the flight instructor provided telephone interviews. They said the purpose of the flight was to evaluate the private pilot for participation in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Wings program. According to both individuals, the flight began at Sanford Airport (SFM), and the pilot was given a simulated engine failure in the traffic pattern. The subsequent landing attempt was aborted, and the flight was continued to Littlebrook Airport (3B4). Upon arrival at Littlebrook, a landing was performed to runway 12, and the airplane was back-taxied for takeoff and flight in the traffic pattern. The airplane took off, and while turning to the downwind leg, approximately 700 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot was given another simulated engine failure. During the descent, the airplane was configured for landing. The pilot turned the airplane to land on Runway 30. While turning to align with the runway, the airplane overshot the runway, and the turn was continued to the right to come back to the landing surface. About 6 feet above the runway, the airplane "stalled", "plummeted", and experienced a hard landing. The airplane shook during the landing roll, then veered right and departed the landing surface. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest. The instructor and the pilot then egressed the airplane. When asked if they experienced any problems with the performance or handling of the airplane, each said no. The weather reported at the Sanford Airport, at 1355, was scattered clouds at 4,000 feet with 10 miles visibility. The wind was from 200 degrees at 4 knots. The temperature was 73 degrees Fahrenheit, the dew point 57 degrees Fahrenheit, and the barometric pressure was 30.08 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4631J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4631J), registered now, S/N 28R-30518, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30518 - Airframe hours: 3906 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Stafford Flying Club, Inc - Registered owner: Stafford Flying Club, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 2004, 52 hours before - Departed: SFM, SANFORD, ME - Destination: 3B4, Eliot, ME - Airport: 3B4, Littlebrook Airpark, runway 26, 2,701 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 35; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 20, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 2,269 total, 250 in this make and model, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 16, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 890 total, 100 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: PSM, 5 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 20040817018289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040817018289A), Aug 17, 2004: Piper PA28R180, Eliot, ME, Substantial damage. (-23) Mr. Ricker, pilot in command of Piper N4631J, was in the process of taking his biennial flight review. He initiated a practice emergency landing at the… ## Other investigations on N4631J (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 ERA15LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA289), Jul 23, 2015: Piper PA-28R-180 (N4631J), Fort Lauderdale, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The undetected fatigue cracks in the engine and nose landing gear (NLG) strut mount assembly, which prevented the proper alignment of the NLG after it was extended and the pilots from being able to… 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.