# NTSB LAX97LA135: Piper PA-28-161, N2128Q, Little River, CA, March 29, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 29, 1997, 12:58 local (20:58 UTC)
- Place: Little River, CA
- Coordinates: 39.259849, -123.760887 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2598&lon=-123.7609&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 14, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29753
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29753/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA135

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to properly judge the flare altitude.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

The pilot stated that she flared 8 to 10 feet above the runway and stalled the airplane.  The airplane pitched nose down and landed on the nose gear.  The nose gear collapsed, damaging the fire wall.

## Factual narrative

On March 29, 1997, at 1258 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N2128Q, collapsed the nose gear during a landing on runway 11 at the Little River, California, airport.  The airplane was rented by the pilot from the West Valley Flying Club for a personal flight and was substantially damaged.  The certificated private pilot and three passengers were not injured.  The flight originated in Palo Alto, California, about 1125.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed.

The pilot said she flared 8 to 10 feet above the runway and stalled the airplane.  The airplane pitched nose down and landed on the nose gear.  The nose gear collapsed, damaging the fire wall.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2128Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2128Q-2018-09-13), registration cancelled 2018-09-13, S/N 28-7916281, 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: 28-7916281
- Airframe hours: 3494
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: West Valley Flying Club
- Registered owner: Engineering Management Consult
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 26, 1997, 4 hours before
- Departed: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA
- Destination: O48
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: O48, Little River, runway 11, 5,249 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 150 total, 11 in this make and model, 65 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: UKI, 27 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 19970329003949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970329003949A), Mar 29, 1997: Piper PA28161, Little River, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed hard.

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.

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