PIPER PA-28-161

Okeechobee, FL, September 21, 2011

Event Information

DateSeptember 21, 2011
Event TypeACC
LocationOkeechobee, FL
CountryUSA
Coordinates27.25972, -80.85028
AirportOkeechobee County Airport
Highest InjuryNONE
NTSB NumberERA11CA497
Event ID20110922X00143

Aircraft

MakePIPER
ModelPA-28-161
Registration #N9249L
OperatorFLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL
OwnerFLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL
CategoryAIR
FAR Part091
Aircraft DamageSUBS

Conditions

Light ConditionDAYL
WeatherVMC

Injuries

Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
None3
Total Injured0

Event Location

Probable Cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath during a power-off landing and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Full Narrative

According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot were on the second leg of a cross country flight when the student pilot entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern at an intermediate airport. The flight instructor directed the student pilot to perform a power-off landing, and power was reduced to idle when the airplane was abeam the runway numbers. The airplane slowed to glide speed, and the student pilot selected 10 degrees of flaps and turned it to the base leg of the traffic pattern. After turning onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane's airspeed decreased to below 60 knots, and the flight instructor advised the student pilot to perform a go around. The flight instructor then took control of the airplane to prevent an "imminent stall" and applied full power, but the airplane continued to descend. The airplane struck trees and a fence, then impacted the ground. The flight instructor subsequently reduced the power to idle and applied the brakes. However, the airplane struck another fence, turned 180 degrees, and came to rest in a grassy area to the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the accident sequence. The flight instructor did not report any preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

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.

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