NTSB CEN25LA085 — 2025-01-20 · Mount Vernon, Illinois, United States

Current FAA registration · N8997W

Make / Model: PIPER PA-28-235
Year of manufacture: 1964 · 61 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES (250 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19641201
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AC6A25

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N8997W Piper PA-28-235 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a collision with terrain.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that during a landing attempt at the destination airport, she flared the airplane too early, and the airplane bounced. While the airplane became airborne from the bounce, she overcorrected, and the airplane yawed right. The airplane right wing tip then struck an ice bank along the right side of the runway. The pilot overcorrected to the left, and the airplane impacted a snow/ice bank on the left side of the runway and came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and an engine mount. The pilot stated there was no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained
— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_CEN25LA085.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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