No fatalities

4 Jul 2011: PIPER PA-28R-201 — Diamond Flight Center — Spanish Fork, UT

Spanish Fork, UT, United States

On 4 Jul 2011, a PIPER PA-28R-201 operated by Diamond Flight Center was involved in an aviation accident near Spanish Fork, UT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper landing flare, inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain directional control. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported touching down hard after flaring too high, then bouncing. Full power go-around failed, and the airplane veered off the runway, collapsing the landing gear and damaging the right wing.

Incident Overview

During a landing attempt, the pilot initiated the flare but realized he was too high. He increased the throttle slightly, but the airplane made a hard touchdown and bounced. At that point, the pilot added full power to abort the landing and initiate a go-around. However, the airplane did not climb as expected. It veered off the runway into the grass, where the landing gear collapsed.

Damage

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the right wing, as well as damage to the landing gear and flaps. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal flight.

Environmental Conditions

The density altitude at the time of the accident was 7,100 feet.

Contributing factors

PilotIncorrect use/operationDirectional control — Not attained/maintained