On the student pilot’s second solo landing at the airport in Belen, N.M., the Piper PA 28-140 landed hard and bounced twice.
The flight instructor, standing on the side of the runway, radioed instructions to go-around.
The student pilot then applied full power, applied right rudder and retracted one notch of flaps. The flight instructor observed the airplane was then in a steep nose up stalling pitch attitude. He radioed instructions to “pitch down, pitch down” and with the airplane very low to the ground and drifting left, the student pilot radioed back asking the flight instructor to “say again.”
Control was lost and the airplane hit a hangar about 650 feet to the left of runway center line. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, tail surfaces, and both wings, which were completely separated as the airplane penetrated the hangar wall. The fuselage came to rest inside the closed hangar.
The student pilot reported that had attempted the go-around with too much pitch, too little speed, and not enough rudder input.
He also reported that the accident would not have happened if he had spent more of his attention “flying the plane” and less attention communicating on the radio during a critical phase of flight.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the student pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB Identification: CEN14CA488
This September 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
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PeterH says
October 3, 2016 at 11:54 amObviously not ready to solo – in more ways than one….
BJS says
October 1, 2016 at 7:46 pmI’ve never heard the first solo should be restricted to one circuit but perhaps that’s good advice? I don’t know? On my first solo I did 8 touch and goes (my instructor told me to do as many landings as I felt comfortable with) and then a full stop. I noticed that my instructor was standing close by the terminal during my T & G’s but when he saw me make the full stop he went inside. Guess he didn’t want me to feel distracted by his watching me? I was at a unmanned airport and during my solo flight a Bonanza showed up on the scene so I did an extended down wind to allow him to land in front of me. He went inside and told my instructor I was doing a good job on the radio so I guess I was well taught?
Stan van de Wiel says
September 30, 2016 at 5:24 amalthough it is regularly done, a first solo should be restricted to one only circuit pattern. In many cases, the elation at having completed that very first take off and landing (solo) is enough to take full attention away from the second one. Most students need time to absorb what happened. This is not to say that he/she should not be trained for a possible go-around. A second – first solo should be attempted later that day or the next. The use of radio by the instructor should not be required and as shown was a major distraction. There are those that can do more but why risk it.
Master Instructor 24,000 hrs.
Glenn Swiatek says
September 30, 2016 at 8:14 amI was lucky. I learned to fly at San Carlos airport, 7 miles or so down the 101 freeway from SFO. The advantage, there are almost always squirlly winds.
What I learned … Every approach is a go around, until Proven otherwise.
Also, I had a great insructor, Rick Depres. We went to Livermore for my solo, a calm perfect morning.
Aviation is an attitude. Now I fly a Mooney. One bounce is an immediate go around. No question. No hesitation.