PIPER PA-28-151
Charleston, SC — March 15, 2012
Event Information
| Date | March 15, 2012 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA12CA228 |
| Event ID | 20120316X41023 |
| Location | Charleston, SC |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 32.70055, -80.00166 |
| Airport | Charleston Executive |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA-28-151 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Full Narrative
The student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight. He entered the traffic pattern at the destination airport and stated that, while on final approach to the runway, he was "crabbing" the airplane. The pilot stated that the airplane touched down hard, bounced, and floated sideways before touching down again on the right main landing gear, then the nose landing gear. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The owner of the airplane stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies 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.