No fatalities

29 Aug 2012: PIPER PA-28R-200 — UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA — Goldsby, OK

Goldsby, OK, United States

On 29 Aug 2012, a PIPER PA-28R-200 operated by UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA was involved in an aviation accident near Goldsby, OK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The commercial pilot did not attain the proper touchdown point during the landing, which resulted in a premature touchdown and an impact with the edge of the runway surface. 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

During a practical test, a commercial pilot attempting a simulated short field landing over a 50-foot obstacle touched down short, causing the right main landing gear to strike the runway edge, resulting in substantial wing damage.

Accident Details

A commercial pilot was conducting a practical test that included demonstrating a simulated short field landing over a simulated 50-foot obstacle. The pilot intended to touch down on or within 100 feet past the runway's painted numbers. The numbers were 60 feet long and positioned approximately 18 feet from the approach end of the runway.

Pilot's Account

The pilot reported that the airplane touched down short of the intended landing spot. The right main landing gear struck the edge of the runway surface, producing a loud "bang" that was heard by both the pilot and the pilot examiner.

Damage

A postflight examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing. Three wing ribs had separated from the spar web and partially penetrated through the upper skin.

Pilot's Remarks

The commercial pilot commented that the accident could have been avoided if a touchdown spot farther from the runway end had been selected.

Contributing factors

Pilot