# NTSB NYC06CA057: Piper PA-28-161, N9284A, New Haven, CT, January 22, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 22, 2006, 12:47 local (17:47 UTC)
- Place: New Haven, CT
- Coordinates: 41.310894, -72.930404 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3109&lon=-72.9304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63139
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06CA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63139/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA057

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control during landing and subsequent impact with a ditch.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

The student pilot stated that he was conducting his second solo instructional flight, and was attempting to land the airplane on a 5,600-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, asphalt runway.  He added that he did not properly flare the airplane, and that it touched down and bounced back into the air.  He then added power to cushion the landing, the airplane touched down once more, and then veered left off the runway coming to rest upright in a ditch. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane, and a postaccident examination revealed the right wing had sustained substantial damage.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot stated that he was conducting his second solo instructional flight, and was attempting to land the airplane on a 5,600-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, asphalt runway.  He added that he did not properly flare the airplane, and that it touched down and bounced back into the air.  He then added power to cushion the landing, the airplane touch down once more, and then veered left off the runway coming to rest upright in a ditch. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane, and a postaccident examination revealed the right wing had sustained substantial damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9284A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9284A), registered now, S/N 28-8616041, built 1985 (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: 28-8616041
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Robinson Aviation
- Registered owner: Michael L Romei
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: HVN, New Haven, CT
- Destination: HVN, New Haven, CT
- Airport: HVN, Tweed-New Haven Airport, runway 02, 5,600 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.63 inHg
- Observed at: HVN

## 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 20060122000849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060122000849A), Jan 22, 2006: Piper PA28161, New Haven, CT, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing on runway 2 at New Haven airport, the student pilot failed to properly flare, bounced back into the air, came back down on the runway with…

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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