Summary
On May 30, 1996, a Piper PA-28-161 (N8275Z) was involved in an incident near Longview, TX. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: An improper flare by the pilot rated student, while landing with a tailwind; and inadequate supervision by the flight instructor.
On May 30, 1996, at 1513 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8275Z, registered to and operated by Letourneau University as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing at Longview, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight instructor and commercial pilot rated student were not injured. The flight originated from Longview, Texas, about 1410, and was in the traffic pattern at Gregg County Airport at the time of the accident.
According to the enclosed Pilot/Operator Report, the commercial pilot rated student was practicing power off landings to runway 17. During the second power off landing, the student pilot initiated a forward slip to lose altitude.
This incident is documented in NTSB report FTW96LA233. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8275Z.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
an improper flare by the pilot rated student, while landing with a tailwind; and inadequate supervision by the flight instructor.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On May 30, 1996, at 1513 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8275Z, registered to and operated by Letourneau University as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing at Longview, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight instructor and commercial pilot rated student were not injured. The flight originated from Longview, Texas, about 1410, and was in the traffic pattern at Gregg County Airport at the time of the accident.
According to the enclosed Pilot/Operator Report, the commercial pilot rated student was practicing power off landings to runway 17. During the second power off landing, the student pilot initiated a forward slip to lose altitude. As the airplane came out of the slip the indicated airspeed was 60 knots. The nose of the aircraft dropped and the flight instructor was unable to correct the nose low attitude. The aircraft impacted the runway damaging the left wing, firewall, fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and separating the landing gear.
The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 010 degrees at 8 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW96LA233