Casualties unknown

1998-12-11: Piper PA-28R-200 (N9320N) — Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ, US

On December 11, 1998, a Piper PA-28R-200 (registration N9320N) was involved in an aviation accident near Tucson, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the instructor pilot to maintain directional control and properly supervise the landing. A contributing factor was the unavailability of brakes on the instructor's side (the right side) of the airplane. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

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

During a proficiency check, a flight instructor demonstrated a soft field landing. The airplane veered right on rollout, lacked right-side brakes, and went off the runway, collapsing the landing gear.

Incident Overview

A flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting a proficiency check flight. The purpose of the flight was to assess the student's skills. During the flight, the instructor demonstrated a soft field landing from the right seat.

Landing and Loss of Control

On the landing rollout, the airplane veered to the right. The airplane was configured with left-hand toe brakes only; brakes on the right side were optional and this particular airplane was not equipped with them. The instructor was unable to regain control of the airplane as it continued off the runway, and the landing gear subsequently collapsed.

Pilot Inputs

The flight instructor reported that the student pilot panicked and did not respond quickly enough to the situation. The instructor believed that the student continued to apply incorrect inputs into the steering and brakes while attempting to control the airplane.

Post-Incident Inspection

An inspection of the airplane's landing gear and braking system, as well as a review of the airplane's maintenance logs, revealed no discrepancies.

Aircraft Information

The airplane involved was a single-engine aircraft equipped with left-hand toe brakes only. The right-side brake option was not installed. The exact aircraft type, registration, and operator were not specified in the report.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X11579. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.