# NTSB MIA03LA004: Piper PA-28R-200, N22DB, Cullman, AL, October 9, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 2002, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Cullman, AL - Coordinates: 34.170562, -86.829841 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1706&lon=-86.8298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 55855 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55855/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA004 ## Probable cause the pilot-in-command's (CFI) delayed remedial action, and improper recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a hard landing, and impact with a parked airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, dual student - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - go-around - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft parked/standing ## Analysis During a touch-and-go landing with the student at the controls, the CFI stated that the student "over flared" causing the airplane to climb and slow down. The CFI told the student to add power, and the student added too much causing the airplane to climb a little more. The CFI took over control of the airplane, added full power to the engine, but said he was too slow in "reducing flaps." The airplane did not accelerate or climb, so the CFI reduced the flaps to the second notch, but was unable to recover. He reduced power to idle, the airplane contacted the ground two or three times, went through the infield between the runway and taxiway, struck a parked airplane with the left wing, and went down into a gully. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 2002, about 1645 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N22DB, registered to and operated by an individual, impacted with a parked airplane at the Folsom Field Airport, Cullman, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilot-in-command/certified flight instructor (CFI), private-rated pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. The flight departed the same airport at 1640. During a touch-and-go landing with the student at the controls, the CFI stated that the student approached to land on runway 02, "over flared" causing the airplane to "climb some," and also "slow down." The CFI told the student to "add some power," and the student added "too much" causing the airplane to climb a "little more." The CFI took over control of the airplane, and the student relinquished control to the CFI. The CFI added full power to the engine, but said he was too slow in "reducing flaps." He noted that the airplane was not "accelerating or climbing," so he "reduced the flaps to the second notch," but said he was "too far behind the airplane to recover." He reduced power to "idle," landed hard, bounced, struck a parked airplane with the left wing, and went down into a gully. According to the FAA inspector, the CFI said the airplane went through the infield between the runway and taxiway. The airplane contacted the ground two or three times before striking an airplane that was parked on the ramp adjacent to the taxiway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22DB-2014-12-17), registration cancelled 2014-12-17, S/N 28R-35105, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-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-35105 - Airframe hours: 2942 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-FB 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Gary Self - Registered owner: W.C. Bates - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 3A1, Cullman, AL - Airport: 3A1, Folsom Field Airport, runway 02, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 54; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,497 total, 90 in this make and model - Student pilot; injuries: minor ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KHSV, 30 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 20021009025879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021009025879A), Oct 9, 2002: Piper PA28R200, Cullman, AL, Destroyed. (-23) Student flared for landing too high. Instructor took over controls, attempted to recover, lost control, hit parked aircraft, and impacted in gully… ## Other investigations on N22DB (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 IAD74DKM12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74DKM12), Aug 18, 1973: Piper PA-28R (N22DB), Brevard, NC, substantial damage 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.