Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28-180 near Pekin, IL — 2011-01-19

Final reportCEN11CA176
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Date
2011-01-19
Location
Pekin, IL, USA
Airport
C15
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28-180
Registration
N5658W
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB narrative

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, he was holding the airplane off the ground waiting for it to settle. He said that he did not pay sufficient attention 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 prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, including buckling of the fuselage and bending of both wing spars.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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