# NTSB NYC94LA149: Piper PA-28-140, N43078, Towanda, PA, July 29, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 1994, 14:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Towanda, PA - Coordinates: 41.760337, -76.439605 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7603&lon=-76.4396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38810 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38810/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA149 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis DURING AN ABORTED LANDING ATTEMPT, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE RUNWAY IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, '....THE APPROACH APPEARED NORMAL. TOUCHDOWN AT FIRST SEEMED TO BE GOOD, BUT THE (AIRPLANE) BALLOONED BACK UP INTO THE AIR. I INTENDED TO BRING THE WHEELS BACK TO THE RUNWAY BY PUSHING FORWARD ON THE YOKE, BUT THE PLANE BOUNCED AGAIN IN THE AIR. AT THIS POINT, I REALIZED THAT I WAS IN A PORPOISE, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DO A GO-AROUND. I STARTED TO PUSH THE THROTTLE UP AND PULL BACK ON THE YOKE, BUT MY REACTION WAS TOO SLOW. THE (AIRPLANE) CAME BACK DOWN TO THE RUNWAY, NOSE FIRST.' ## Factual narrative On July 29, 1994, at 1440 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-140, N43078, piloted by Ms. Susan E. Schulz, of Succasunna, New Jersey, struck the runway while landing at Towanda, Pennsylvania. The airplane received substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the solo cross-country flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: ...Touchdown at first seemed to be good, but the plane ballooned back up into the air. I intended to bring the wheels back to the runway by pushing forward on the yoke, but the plane bounced again up in the air. At this point I realized that I was in a porpoise and that I would have to do a go-around. I started to push the throttle up and pull back on the yoke, but my reaction was too slow. The plane came back down to the runway nose first.... The pilot reported the winds were calm. According to the Airport/Facility Directory, runway 5 is 3030 feet long, 70 feet wide, and has an asphalt surface. The pilot held a student pilot certificate. She reported her total flight time was 46 hours with 12 hours solo. Additionally, all her flying had been conducted in the Piper PA-28-140. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43078](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43078-2017-08-29), registration cancelled 2017-08-29, S/N 28-7425332, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7425332 - Airframe hours: 2425 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flight Leader, Inc., doing business as Flight Leader, Inc. - Registered owner: G. Allen Sewell - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 15, 1994, 30 hours before - Departed: MMU, MORRISTOWN, NJ - Airport: N27, Towanda, runway 5, 3,030 × 70 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 46 total, 46 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 19940729020369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940729020369A), Jul 29, 1994: Piper PA28140, Towanda, PA, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised landing improper recovery attempt. Hit nose first collapsing nose gear. To rest on nose. ## Other investigations on N43078 (3) 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 ERA15LA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA237), Jun 14, 2015: Piper PA28 (N43078), Hampton, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly set the stabilator trim prior to takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall during takeoff. - [NTSB BFO90LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA049), May 26, 1990: Piper PA-28-140 (N43078), Lusby, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE DISTANCE NEEDED TO TOUCHDOWN AND STOP HIS AIRCRAFT BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT FAILED TO USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY DURING THE LANDING SEQUENCE. - [NTSB NYC75DHD20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC75DHD20), Sep 25, 1974: Piper PA-28 (N43078), Vincetown, NJ, 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.