Piper PA28
Merritt Island, FL — August 9, 2018
Event Information
| Date | August 9, 2018 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA18CA479 |
| Event ID | 20180809X70910 |
| Location | Merritt Island, FL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 28.34167, -80.68694 |
| Airport | MERRITT ISLAND |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Piper |
| Model | PA28 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering to avoid a bird during the landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Full Narrative
The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, prior to initiating the landing flare, he saw a "white bird" heading towards the airplane. He applied left rudder to avoid the bird, and the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline. He then "[pulled] the yoke back", but the left main landing gear impacted a taxiway sign, and the airplane settled on the adjacent grass.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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.