- Date
- October 24, 2014, 16:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place
- Borrego Valley, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N211JYSIAI Marchetti S211
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 10, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20141024022649A
- Case key
- 90340
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The private pilot's premature landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The private pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was for him to receive instruction from the rear-seated flight instructor (CFI). Following departure, they flew to a nearby airport with the intent of performing touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings. As the airplane approached the touchdown zone, the private pilot prematurely flared. The CFI assumed control of the airplane and decreased the pitch attitude while simultaneously applying engine power. Despite his attempts, the airplane contacted the runway hard in a nose-high attitude. The CFI opted to abort the landing and climbed to traffic pattern altitude to verify proper control input. He landed on the same runway without incident. In the section titled "RECOMMENDATION" in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, form 6120.1/2, the pilots stated that the accident could have been prevented if they had flared closer to the runway. During the impact sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage structure. Both pilots reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The private pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was for him to receive instruction from the rear-seated certified flight instructor (CFI). Following departure, they flew to a nearby airport with the intent of performing touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings. As the airplane approached the touchdown zone, the private pilot prematurely flared. The CFI assumed control of the airplane and decreased the pitch attitude while simultaneously applying engine power. Despite his attempts, the airplane contacted the runway hard in a nose-high attitude. The CFI opted to abort the landing and climbed to traffic pattern altitude to verify proper control input. He landed on the same runway without incident.In the section titled "RECOMMENDATION" in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, form 6120.1/2, the pilots stated that the accident could have been prevented if they had flared closer to the runway. During the impact sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage structure. Both pilots reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N211JY
- Reported as
- SIAI Marchetti S211 (A)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 013/02-010
- Airframe hours
- 6,018
- Engine
- Pratt and Whitney JT150-4C, 2,500 horsepower, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Progenitech LLC
- Registered owner
- Progenitech LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · July 15, 2014
- Departed
- KRNM · Ramona, CA
- Destination
- L08 · Borrego Valley, CA
- Airport
- L08 · Borrego Valley, runway 26, 5,011 × 75 ft, asphalt
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Rear
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 28,014 total · 85 in this make and model · 18,000 as pilot in command · 170 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 13 in this make and model · 2,600 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.