Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC94LA149