N7892P

Substantial
Serious

PIPER PA 24-250S/N: 24-3121

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, October 5, 2017
NTSB Number
WPR18LA005
Location
Hillsboro, OR
Event ID
20171005X93025
Coordinates
45.428333, -122.942222
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
2
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The student's pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during approach and subsequent exceedance of the critical angle of attack during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action during the attempted go-around.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N7892P
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
24-3121
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Year Built
1962
Model / ICAO
PA 24-250M600
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
TWIN OAKS AIRPARK INC
Address
12405 SW RIVER RD
Status
Deregistered
City
HILLSBORO
State / Zip Code
OR 97123-9314
Country
United States

Analysis

On October 5, 2017, about 1420 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, airplane, N7892P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Hillsboro, Oregon. The flight instructor and student pilot were seriously injured. The airplane was operated by Twin Oaks Airpark Inc. as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

The flight instructor reported that, during a practice soft field full stop landing, as the student pilot was approaching the runway, the airplane descended quicker than expected. As the airplane got closer to the runway, the airspeed was decreasing, the nose angle was increasing and he called out to the student "airspeed." A go-around was called and during the go-around, the airplane aerodynamically stalled, and settled towards the runway. The airplane struck short of the runway hard, and then bounced onto the runway.

According to the student pilot the soft field landing had a shallower glide path than a normal landing. He stated that while flying the approach, he noticed that the airspeed was about 15 knots slow. Subsequently, the flight instructor called for him to go-around. During the go-around, the flight instructor told him to apply the power quicker. As the airplane approached the flare, he felt the airplane settle towards the ground in an aerodynamic stall. Furthermore, he stated that he noticed no wind (crosswind or downdraft) on final.

Both wings and the fuselage were substantially damaged.

The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR18LA005