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ERA11CA187

2011-03-12 · Oxford, Connecticut, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport OXC

Current FAA registration · N2838D

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-161
Year of manufacture
1979 · 32 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19790507
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A2DC94

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot's inadequate landing flare and the certified flight instructor's inadequate remedial action, resulting in a hard landing.

Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, he was practicing crosswind landings with his flight instructor when they planned to perform a full stop landing on runway 36. Both pilots stated that they maintained 70 knots on final approach, and the airplane landed "flat." The flight instructor stated that he moved his hand to the throttle to add power but it was too late. After impacting the runway, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. After reviewing a security video of the accident, the airport manager reported that the airplane did not flare prior to landing. During a subsequent examination of the wreckage, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found no anomalies of the airplane. The winds reported at an the airport around the time of the accident were variable from 240 degrees to 310 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 17 knots. According to the student pilot, he was practicing crosswind landings with his certified flight instructor (CFI) when they planned to perform a full stop landing on runway 36. The airplane touched down hard in a level attitude and the CFI moved his hand to the throttle to add engine power but was too late. After impacting the runway, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. After reviewing a security video of the accident, the airport manager reported that the airplane did not flare prior to landing. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The reported wind conditions at an the airport around the time of the accident were variable from 240 degrees to 310 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 17 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Student pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_ERA11CA187.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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