Summary
On January 19, 2011, a Piper PA-28-180 (N5658W) was involved in an accident near Pekin, IL. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
During a telephone conversation, the student pilot said that he was a performing takeoffs and landings on his first solo flight when the accident occurred. He stated that he had made two or three uneventful landings prior to the accident. He said that while floating down the runway on the final landing, he was holding the airplane off the ground waiting for it to settle. He said that he did not pay the attention that he should have to the airplane’s airspeed and it stalled about 10 to 15 feet above the runway. The airplane's nose dropped and the airplane impacted the ground nose first and skidded to a stop. He stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane suffered substantial damage including buckling of the fuselage and bending of both wing spars.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CEN11CA176. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5658W.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
During a telephone conversation, the student pilot said that he was a performing takeoffs and landings on his first solo flight when the accident occurred. He stated that he had made two or three uneventful landings prior to the accident. He said that while floating down the runway on the final landing, he was holding the airplane off the ground waiting for it to settle. He said that he did not pay the attention that he should have to the airplane’s airspeed and it stalled about 10 to 15 feet above the runway. The airplane's nose dropped and the airplane impacted the ground nose first and skidded to a stop. He stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane suffered substantial damage including buckling of the fuselage and bending of both wing spars.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN11CA176