# NTSB SEA97LA121: Piper PA-28R-201, N30563, Pocatello, ID, May 26, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 1997, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Pocatello, ID - Coordinates: 42.859859, -112.629524 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8599&lon=-112.6295&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42614 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42614/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA121 ## Probable cause inadequate remedial action of the pilot-in-command (CFI). Related factors include: the dual student's failure to maintain the proper airspeed and descent rate. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, takeoff - aborted - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - airspeed - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - descent - excessive, dual student (contributing factor) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - flare - not attained ## Analysis During the initial climb after takeoff, at about 150 feet above the ground (AGL), the instructor pilot (CFI) reduced the power to idle to simulate a full power failure on takeoff. The rated-student, who was receiving training toward his commercial certificate, did not lower the nose soon enough to maintain proper airspeed. As the airspeed began to decrease, the aircraft's descent rate became excessive. Realizing the descent rate was too great, the CFI pushed the throttle to full power, but did not take control of the aircraft. The student was unable to arrest the descent rate before impacting the runway. The aircraft landed hard enough that the top skin of the right wing was distorted by the landing gear. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 1997, approximately 1315 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201, N30563, experienced a hard landing during a simulated power loss on takeoff at Pocatello Regional Airport, Pocatello, Idaho. The certified flight instructor and the private pilot, who was receiving instruction toward his commercial rating, were not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned by Skyriders, Inc., sustained substantial damage. The round-robin instructional cross-country flight was departing Pocatello in visual meteorological conditions, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the instructor pilot, the aircraft was about 150 feet above the ground when he pulled the power to idle in order to simulate a complete power loss. He said that the student did not lower the nose soon enough to keep the airspeed from deteriorating, and as the aircraft descended toward the runway, the instructor realized that the "...rate of descent was too great..." He therefore added full power "...in an attempt to slow or stop the descent." According to the instructor, the student was unable to arrest the high rate of descent, and "Seconds after adding full power, the aircraft impacted the runway in a normal nose high attitude..." The instructor said that he did not take over control of the aircraft, and other than his addition of power, "...the student remained at the controls." After the hard landing, neither pilot realized that the aircraft had been damaged, so they added power and continued the takeoff. At about 400 feet above the ground, the instructor noticed the right wing top skin bulging upward near the point where the landing gear attaches to the wing spar. Upon discovering the damage to the wing, the flight instructor terminated the flight and made an uneventful landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30563](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30563-2010-11-29), registration cancelled 2010-11-29, S/N 28R-7837314, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-201 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7837314 - Airframe hours: 6065 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Skyriders, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 17, 1996, 65 hours before - Departed: PIH, ID - Airport: PIH, Pocatello Regional, runway 21, 9,056 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 523 total, 89 in this make and model, 481 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °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 19970526011959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970526011959A), May 26, 1997: Piper PA28R201, Pocatello, ID, Substantial damage. On may 26, 1997, approximately 1315 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28R0201, N30563, experienced a hard landing during a simulated power loss on takeoff at… 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.