On April 20, 1997, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N2477K) operated by Wellsville Flying Service, Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Wellsville, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the student pilot's improper flare, improper recovery from a bounced landing, and loss of directional control, during the landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot and flight instructor conducted dual and solo training. After five successful landings, the student experienced hard bounces on subsequent landing attempts, leading to a stall and runway excursion.
Overview
A combined dual and solo instructional lesson involved a student pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI). The flight consisted of five takeoffs and landings conducted under supervision before the student continued with solo operations.
Sequence of Events
According to the student, during the sixth landing attempt, the airplane bounced hard. The student initiated a go-around. On the next landing attempt, the airplane bounced hard again, but this time the student continued the landing. The CFI, observing from the ground, reported that the airplane bounced, then the student flared too high, resulting in a stall. The CFI stated that the left wing struck the ground first, followed by the left main landing gear and the nose gear. Both the student and CFI indicated that the airplane veered off the runway to the left and came to rest approximately 80 to 100 feet left of the runway.