NYC94LA149

Factual narrative

On July 29, 1994, at 1440 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-140, N43078, piloted by Ms. Susan E. Schulz, of Succasunna, New Jersey, struck the runway while landing at Towanda, Pennsylvania. The airplane received substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the solo cross-country flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: ...Touchdown at first seemed to be good, but the plane ballooned back up into the air. I intended to bring the wheels back to the runway by pushing forward on the yoke, but the plane bounced again up in the air. At this point I realized that I was in a porpoise and that I would have to do a go-around. I started to push the throttle up and pull back on the yoke, but my reaction was too slow. The plane came back down to the runway nose first.... The pilot reported the winds were calm. According to the Airport/Facility Directory, runway 5 is 3030 feet long, 70 feet wide, and has an asphalt surface. The pilot held a student pilot certificate. She reported her total flight time was 46 hours with 12 hours solo. Additionally, all her flying had been conducted in the Piper PA-28-140. DURING AN ABORTED LANDING ATTEMPT, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE RUNWAY IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, '....THE APPROACH APPEARED NORMAL. TOUCHDOWN AT FIRST SEEMED TO BE GOOD, BUT THE (AIRPLANE) BALLOONED BACK UP INTO THE AIR. I INTENDED TO BRING THE WHEELS BACK TO THE RUNWAY BY PUSHING FORWARD ON THE YOKE, BUT THE PLANE BOUNCED AGAIN IN THE AIR. AT THIS POINT, I REALIZED THAT I WAS IN A PORPOISE, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DO A GO-AROUND. I STARTED TO PUSH THE THROTTLE UP AND PULL BACK ON THE YOKE, BUT MY REACTION WAS TOO SLOW. THE (AIRPLANE) CAME BACK DOWN TO THE RUNWAY, NOSE FIRST.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12