# NTSB SEA00LA006: Piper PA-24-250, N8078P, Bozeman, MT, October 20, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 20, 1999, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Bozeman, MT - Coordinates: 45.259788, -111.320236 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2598&lon=-111.3202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47701 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47701/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA006 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's (CFI) failure to take remedial action. Factors include the private pilot letting the airspeed get too low. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor) ## Analysis The private pilot, whose flight review had expired, was in the process of completing a flight review recurrency flight, when the instructor reduced the power and asked him to execute a simulated forced landing. As he stretched the glide in an attempt to make it to the approach end of the runway, the airspeed became lower than normal approach speed. Although the aircraft was able to reach the end of the runway, just after it crossed the threshold, it dropped onto the runway with sufficient force to cause substantial damage. Although the airspeed had slowed below normal approach speed as the aircraft neared the approach end of the runway, the instructor pilot did not add power, nor did she call for termination of the simulated forced landing exercise. ## Factual narrative On October 20, 1999, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N8078P, experienced a hard landing during a simulated engine-out approach at Gallatin Field, Bozeman, Montana. The flight instructor and the private pilot received minor injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the private pilot, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, which began about 60 minutes prior to the accident, was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to an FAA Inspector from the Helena FSDO, the private pilot's flight review was not current, and this was an instructional flight which he hoped would be the basis for renewing his review. The inspector said that during the review, the flight instructor reduced the engine power in order to simulate an engine failure, and then instructed the private pilot to land the aircraft. According to the private pilot, he tried to "stretch" the glide in order to reach the end of the runway, but the airspeed began to slow, and the aircraft dropped in hard just after crossing the runway threshold. Although the airspeed had slowed below normal approach speed as the aircraft neared the approach end of the runway, the instructor pilot did not attempt to add power, nor did she call for termination of the simulated forced landing exercise. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8078P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8078P), registered now, S/N 24-3326, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-3326 - Airframe hours: 4598 - Engines: Lycoming O-540--A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles L. Hoenig - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 28, 1999, 111 hours before - Departed: BZN - Airport: BZN, Gallatin Field, runway 21, 2,650 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,392 total, 66 in this make and model, 3,274 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °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 19991020047429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991020047429A), Oct 20, 1999: Piper PA24250, Bozeman, MT, Substantial damage. (.4) The private pilot, whose flight review had expired, was in the process of completing a flight review recurrency flight, when the instructor reduced the… ## Other investigations on N8078P (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 UNK65X1282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X1282), Jan 13, 1965: Piper PA24 (N8078P), Pottstown, PA, 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.