Casualties unknown

1988-11-11: Piper PA-44-180 (N81609) — Bay Air Flying Service — Clearwater, FL

Clearwater, FL, US

On November 11, 1988, a Piper PA-44-180 (registration N81609) operated by Bay Air Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Clearwater, FL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During a simulated single-engine approach, an instructor's momentary distraction led to a low-and-slow condition. Power application failed to prevent touchdown short of the runway, collapsing the main gear.

Incident Overview

A training flight involving a student pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI) ended with structural damage after the main landing gear collapsed during a simulated single-engine approach. The accident occurred when the aircraft touched down short of the runway surface and contacted the runway lip.

Sequence of Events

According to the accident report, the student pilot was conducting a simulated single-engine approach when the instructor's attention was briefly diverted inside the cockpit. Upon redirecting focus outside, the CFI observed that the aircraft was low and slow on a short final approach. The instructor immediately applied power in an attempt to arrest the descent, but the aircraft contacted the ground before reaching the runway threshold.

Damage Assessment

The impact with the runway lip caused the main landing gear to collapse. Investigators noted that there was no failure or malfunction of the engines or flight controls during the event.

Investigation Findings

The investigation did not specify a probable cause for the accident. However, it was confirmed that no mechanical anomalies contributed to the occurrence. The aircraft's systems, including engines and flight controls, were operating normally.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X27302. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.