Pilot Debrief

PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-28-181 near Fort Lauderdale, FL — 2025-12-16

Final reportERA26LA074
Sign in to save
Date
2025-12-16
Location
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Airport
FXE
Aircraft
PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-28-181
Registration
N472A
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper landing flare and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose landing gear collapse.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that the student pilot began the landing flare too high, then suddenly pitched the airplane up 10 to 15 degrees. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and added engine power but the airplane landed hard, bounced, and began to porpoise down the runway, during which the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and engine mount. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

Related mishaps