PIPER PA 24-250
Hillsboro, OR — October 5, 2017
Event Information
| Date | October 5, 2017 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR18LA005 |
| Event ID | 20171005X93025 |
| Location | Hillsboro, OR |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 45.42833, -122.94222 |
| Airport | STARK'S TWIN OAKS AIRPARK |
| Highest Injury | SERS |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA 24-250 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 2 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 2 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The student's pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during approach and subsequent exceedance of the critical angle of attack during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action during the attempted go-around.
Full Narrative
On October 5, 2017, about 1420 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, airplane, N7892P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Hillsboro, Oregon. The flight instructor and student pilot were seriously injured. The airplane was operated by Twin Oaks Airpark Inc. as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
The flight instructor reported that, during a practice soft field full stop landing, as the student pilot was approaching the runway, the airplane descended quicker than expected. As the airplane got closer to the runway, the airspeed was decreasing, the nose angle was increasing and he called out to the student "airspeed." A go-around was called and during the go-around, the airplane aerodynamically stalled, and settled towards the runway. The airplane struck short of the runway hard, and then bounced onto the runway.
According to the student pilot the soft field landing had a shallower glide path than a normal landing. He stated that while flying the approach, he noticed that the airspeed was about 15 knots slow. Subsequently, the flight instructor called for him to go-around. During the go-around, the flight instructor told him to apply the power quicker. As the airplane approached the flare, he felt the airplane settle towards the ground in an aerodynamic stall. Furthermore, he stated that he noticed no wind (crosswind or downdraft) on final.
Both wings and the fuselage were substantially damaged.
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.