Casualties unknown

Student Pilot Hard Landing Leads to Porpoising and Damage (N586FL)

Lehighton, PA, US

On October 23, 2004, a Piper PA-28-140 (registration N586FL) operated by Ace Pilot Training was involved in an aviation accident near Lehighton, PA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot inadequate flare, and failure to recover from a bounced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot reported a hard landing and subsequent porpoising that resulted in damage to the nose gear, propeller, and engine firewall. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.

Incident Overview

A student pilot was conducting a landing on a 3,000-foot-long, 60-foot-wide asphalt runway. According to the pilot's report, the airplane touched down hard and then began to porpoise. The aircraft subsequently came to a stop on the runway.

Damage Sustained

After the event, damage was noted to the nose gear, propeller, and engine firewall. The extent of the damage was limited to these components.

Pilot Experience and Statement

The student pilot reported a total flight experience of 39.6 hours, including 1.7 hours of solo flight. The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane were experienced during the flight or landing.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20041109X01793. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.