No fatalities

25 Aug 2009: PIPER PA-34 200T — Coastal Empire Flight Training LLC — Savannah, GA

Savannah, GA, United States

On 25 Aug 2009, a PIPER PA-34 200T operated by Coastal Empire Flight Training LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Savannah, GA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during landing and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, resulting in a hard landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A flight instructor and student pilot experienced a hard landing after the student pilot abruptly pulled back on the control yoke just before touchdown, following a partial loss of communication radios.

Accident Details

A flight instructor and a student pilot were returning to the airport after practicing maneuvers. According to the flight instructor, the airplane experienced a partial loss of communication radios while en route. The aircraft was subsequently cleared to land using light signals.

During the approach, the student pilot was flying the airplane. After a normal approach, just prior to touchdown on the runway, the student pilot abruptly pulled back on the control yoke. The airplane climbed approximately 10 feet, at which point the flight instructor assumed control and pushed the control yoke forward. The airplane subsequently landed hard, resulting in damage to the nose gear, the right engine propeller, and the nose cone structure at the base of the windshield.

The flight instructor further stated that he did not experience any flight control malfunctions and that weather was not a factor during the accident.

Contributing factors

Pitch control — Not attained/maintainedInstructor/check pilotStudent pilot