Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172M near McMinnville, OR — 2015-10-02

Final reportGAA16CA011
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Date
2015-10-02
Location
McMinnville, OR, USA
Airport
MMV
Aircraft
CESSNA 172M
Registration
N20488
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to correct the student pilot's approach path during the final approach, which resulted in a collision with runway threshold lights. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to attain and maintain the recommended approach path.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot reported that on his first night training flight he was practicing takeoffs and landings. He stated that during his third approach, as he was turning from base to final, the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) displayed four red lights, indicating that he was below the recommended approach path. The flight instructor told him that he was too low and to add power. The student pilot added power and the far left PAPI light started to turn from red to white. He reported that on short final, he reduced engine power to idle and that during touchdown, the airplane collided with a runway threshold light. The airplane sustained substantial damage to horizontal stabilizer spar. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
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Docket documents3

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