N9468W

Substantial
None

PIPER PA-28-235CS/N: 28-11193

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
NTSB Number
CEN20CA137
Location
Omaha, NE
Event ID
20200406X15406
Coordinates
41.198612, -96.114723
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, subsequent loss of directional control, and the airplane going down an embankment.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N9468W
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
28-11193
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1969
Model / ICAO
PA-28-235CP28B
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
DOWNS DALE
Address
PO BOX 188
Status
Deregistered
City
LOUISVILLE
State / Zip Code
NE 68037-0188
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot was returning from his third solo cross country flight. He made a stop-and-go and a touch-and-go landing at another airport, then returned to his home base and landed on runway 12. The wind was from 180° at 6 knots with variable gusts. The airplane touched down and bounced. The right wing dropped and the right main landing gear touched down, followed by the nose landing gear. The airplane turned hard to the left but the airplane was too close to the runway edge to turn and remain on the runway so the pilot applied maximum braking and raised the nose to try and slow the airplane down. The airplane went down an 8 to 10 ft embankment at an angle. At the bottom of the embankment the left wing struck the ground and it separated from the fuselage, and the nose landing gear bent aft which bent the engine mounts and buckled the firewall. There were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN20CA137