1989-07-29: Piper PA-38-112 — Liberty Flight Center — Liberty, MO

Casualties unknown • Liberty, MO, US

Probable cause

CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY THE DUAL STUDENT AS THE INSTRUCTOR TRIED TO RECOVER FROM THE STUDENT'S BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: IMPROPER FLARE BY THE STUDENT, THE CROSSWIND, THE STUDENT'S APPREHENSION DURING THE BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE CROP BESIDE THE RUNWAY.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) ELECTED TO VISIT AN ARPT WITH A NARROW RWY WHERE SMALL ACFT WERE BUILT & FLOWN. THE 1ST APCH WAS NOT TO THE CFI'S SATISFACTION, SO A GO-AROUND WAS MADE. THE 2ND APCH WAS GOOD, BUT DRG THE LNDG, THE STUDENT 'FROZE' AT THE CONTROLS & THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE STUDENT'S GRASP. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT BOUNCED, THEN IT WENT INTO A BORDERING CORN FIELD & WAS DAMAGED. THE CFI SAID HE REPEATEDLY TOLD THE STUDENT TO 'LET GO,' BUT THE STUDENT CONTINUED TO STAY ON THE CONTROLS.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1989-07-29 Piper PA-38-112 accident near Liberty, MO?

THE STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) ELECTED TO VISIT AN ARPT WITH A NARROW RWY WHERE SMALL ACFT WERE BUILT & FLOWN. THE 1ST APCH WAS NOT TO THE CFI'S SATISFACTION, SO A GO-AROUND WAS MADE. THE 2ND APCH WAS GOOD, BUT DRG THE LNDG, THE STUDENT 'FROZE' AT THE CONTROLS & THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE STUDENT'S GRASP.…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1989-07-29 involved a Piper PA-38-112, registration N4278E, operated by Liberty Flight Center, at Liberty, MO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY THE DUAL STUDENT AS THE INSTRUCTOR TRIED TO RECOVER FROM THE STUDENT'S BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: IMPROPER FLARE BY THE STUDENT, THE CROSSWIND, THE STUDENT'S APPREHENSION DURING THE BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE CROP BESIDE THE RUNWAY.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X28942. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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