# NTSB WPR23LA238: Piper PA-28-181, N28034, Mesa, AZ, June 17, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 16, 2023, 19:13 local (Jun 17, 2023, 02:13 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.460841, -111.72832 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4608&lon=-111.7283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Scottsdale FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192447 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192447/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192447 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA238 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight school reported that the student pilot was conducting his second solo flight. In the landing flare the student pilot floated and began porpoising; hitting the nose wheel several times and striking the prop on the runway. The nosewheel collapsed sustaining substantial damage to the engine mount. There were no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28034](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28034), registered now, S/N 2881357, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-B4A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b4a) (registry code 41867, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2881357 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 3035 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix - Registered owner: CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 15, 2023, 1 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FFZ, Falcon Field Airport, runway 22L, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 73 total, 73 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 4 °F - Altimeter: 29.74 inHg - Observed at: KFFZ - METAR: METAR KFFZ 160154Z 29005KT 10SM CLR 34/04 A2974 RMK AO2 SLP046 T03440039= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20230616004319I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230616004319I), Jun 16, 2023: Piper PA-28-181, Mesa, AZ, Minor damage. Student pilot (student) on second solo. Student had been struggling with landings as stated by his flight instructor (CFI) appeared to have overcome issue and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192447. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15831873&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15832245&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.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.