# NTSB WPR15CA031: SIAI Marchetti S211, N211JY, Borrego Valley, CA, October 24, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 24, 2014, 16:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Borrego Valley, CA - Coordinates: 33.264999, -116.30722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2650&lon=-116.3072&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 March 10, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90340 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15CA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90340/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90340 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA031 ## Probable cause The private pilot's premature landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: N211JY (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SIAI MARCHETTI S211 (A) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 013/02-010 - Airframe hours: 6018 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney JT150-4C 2500 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 As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 60; injuries: none; 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 - Student pilot; age 60; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20141024022649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141024022649A), Oct 24, 2014: Siai-Marchetti Srl S 211, Borrego Springs, CA, Substantial damage. Due to a excessively hard landing the main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft stopped after skidding 3,500 feet near the center of the runway. Nose tire,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90340. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Private Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422489&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Private%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - CFI (item 2, .PDF, 370 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422490&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20CFI-Redacted.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.