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

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

No fatalities • Savannah, GA, United States

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during landing and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, resulting in a hard landing.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The flight instructor and student pilot were returning to the airport for landing after practicing maneuvers. According to the flight instructor, the airplane experienced a partial loss of communication radios en route and was cleared to land using light signals. The student pilot was flying the airplane and after a normal approach, just prior to touchdown on the runway, he abruptly pulled back on the control yoke. The airplane climbed approximately 10 feet as the flight instructor assumed control and pushed the control yoke forward. The airplane subsequently landed hard, which resulted 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 weather was not a factor during the accident.

Contributing factors

  • cause Pitch control — Not attained/maintained
  • cause Instructor/check pilot
  • cause Student pilot

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 100/09kt, vis 10sm

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