# NTSB MIA89LA064: Piper PA-28-161, N81444, Bunnell, FL, January 7, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1989, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Bunnell, FL
- Location: 29.4661° N, 81.2578° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bunnell, FL, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4661&lon=-81.2578&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32381
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32381/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA064

## Probable cause

MISJUDGEMENT OF ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE TO THE RUNWAY BY THE STUDENT PILOT, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI).  THE EXPOSED (RAISED) RUNWAY LIP WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - altitude - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AS THE DUAL STUDENT WAS PRACTICING A SHORT FIELD LANDING, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN JUST SHORT OF THE RWY. A MOMENT LATER, BEFORE THE NOSEWHEEL WAS LOWERED, THE MAIN GEAR HIT THE LIP OF THE RWY, WHICH WAS EXPOSED.  DURING IMPACT, THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE BLEW OUT, THE RIGHT STRUT FAILED & THE RIGHT WING WAS DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N81444 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8016242
- Airframe hours: 3043
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Eagle Flight Center, Inc.
- Registered owner: Endicott Research Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 5, 1988, 42 hours before
- Departed: DAB, DAYTONA BEACH, FL
- Airport: X47, Flagler County, runway 11, 5,000 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 854 total, 17 in this make and model, 649 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAB, 15 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 19890107000669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890107000669A), Jan 7, 1989: Piper PA28161, Bunnell, FL, Substantial damage. Landed short of runway on a practice short field landing. Aircraft hit lip of runway CFI failed to correct error.

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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