# NTSB LAX04CA115: Piper PA-28-161, N28385, Placerville, CA, January 30, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 29, 2004, 19:00 local (Jan 30, 2004, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Placerville, CA - Coordinates: 38.729167, -120.755554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7292&lon=-120.7556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58710 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58710/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA115 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to attain a proper glide path during the final approach and delayed go-around, resulting in an undershoot of the runway. The inadequate supervision of the flight and flight instructor's delayed remedial action was also causal. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper glidepath - not attained, dual student (cause) - distance/altitude - misjudged, dual student (cause) - go-around - delayed, dual student (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis While attempting to land, the airplane undershot the runway and collided with terrain short of the runway, shearing off the main landing gear. The student pilot was practicing night flying. While on final approach, the airplane was below the glide path and he attempted a go-around. The airplane's main gear collided with a berm located before the runway. The airplane bounced and the ELT (emergency locator transmitter) became activated. The impact sheered off the left main landing gear and the right main landing gear was still attached, but dangling from the strut. After testing the airplane's controllability, the certified flight instructor (CFI) determined it was in "flyable" condition and elected to return to the airport the flight originated from. He made a normal approach and started his rollout solely on the nose wheel. Although the airplane did not have any brakes, the airplane came to rest about three quarters of the way down the runway. The CFI did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On January 29, 2004, about 1900 Pacific standard time, a Piper, PA-28-161, N28385, undershot the runway and collided with terrain while landing at Placerville Airport (PVF), Placerville, California. Horizon Aviation Flying School, Inc., owned and operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The instructional, local area flight departed Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN), Auburn, California, about 1900. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the CFI stated that the student pilot was flying an approach to runway 05 at PVF. It was a bright night and the student was practicing night flying. While on final approach, the VASI (visual approach slope indicator) lighting indications denoted that airplane was below the glide path. The student attempted a go-around by adding full power. The airplane's main gear collided with a berm located before the runway. The airplane bounced and the ELT (emergency locator transmitter) became activated. The CFI turned the ELT to the off position and took control of the airplane. After testing the airplane's controllability, he determined it was in "flyable" condition and elected to return to AUN. He made a normal approach and started his rollout solely on the nose wheel. About 1,000 feet down the runway, the struts of the main gear made contact with the asphalt. Although the airplane did not have any brakes, the airplane came to rest about three quarters of the way down the runway. After exiting the airplane, he noticed that the left main landing gear was sheered off, and the right main landing gear was still attached, but dangling from the strut. The CFI did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. An airframe and powerplant mechanic (A&P) assessed the damage that the airplane incurred during the accident. He stated that the airplane sustained damage to the left flap control surface, the underside and several ribs on the left wing, and the complete main landing gear assembly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28385](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28385-2018-01-17), registration cancelled 2018-01-17, S/N 28-7916409, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - 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: 28-7916409 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Horizon Aviation Flying School - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: AUN, AUBURN, CA - Destination: PVF, PLACERVILLE, CA - Airport: KPVF, Placerville Airport, runway 05 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 72; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 4,987 total, 67 in this make and model, 68 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 54; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 108 total, 26 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright ## 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 20040129006349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040129006349A), Jan 29, 2004: Piper PA28161, Placerville, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) While on a training flight, the flight instructor allowed the student pilot to descend too low and short of the runway prior to initiating a go-around.… 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.