# NTSB WPR09CA345: Piper PA-28R-180, N3953T, Tucson, AZ, July 14, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 14, 2009, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.109443, -110.937774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1094&lon=-110.9378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74289 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74289/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74289 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA345 ## Probable cause A hard landing or abnormal runway contact by one or both pilots. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that prior to the flight he checked the weather, and preflighted the airplane. The pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI) took off and conducted a series of practice flight maneuvers for his commercial pilot's license. After completing the maneuvers, the pilot and CFI returned to the airport to practice five landings then taxi the airplane to the parking area. After parking the airplane, a crack was observed on the wing above the right landing gear aft mount. Further examination of the airframe revealed the upper right wing and right main landing gear attachment point were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane's airframe or engine prior to the incident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that prior to the flight he checked the weather, and preflighted the airplane. The pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI) took off and conducted a series of practice flight maneuvers for his commercial pilot's license. After completing the maneuvers, the pilot and CFI returned to the airport to practice five landings then taxi the airplane to the parking area. After parking the airplane, a crack was observed on the wing above the right landing gear aft mount. Further examination of the airframe revealed the upper right wing and right main landing gear attachment point were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane's airframe or engine prior to the incident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3953T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3953T), registered now, S/N 28R-30296 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30296 - Airframe hours: 6100 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: New Mexico Flying Eagle Inc. - Registered owner: Amalong Timothy M - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 6, 2009, 50 hours before - Departed: TUS, Tucson, AZ - Destination: TUS, Tucson, AZ - Airport: TUS, Tucson International Airport, runway 11R, 8,408 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 6, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 724 total, 22 in this make and model, 518 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 30, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 1,617 total, 124 in this make and model, 1,533 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F - Observed at: TUS ## 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 20090714018009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090714018009A), Jul 14, 2009: Piper PA28R180, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Interviewed [privacy data omitted]. The following was related during the interview, on the morning of 07/17/2009, [privacy data omitted] did a preflight… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74289. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 570 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316858&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Damage to top of wing (item 2, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316972&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Damage%20to%20top%20of%20wing-Master.PDF 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.