No fatalities

20 Dec 2017: PIPER PA28 161 — NORTH STAR AVIATION INC — Mankato, MN

Mankato, MN, United States

On 20 Dec 2017, a PIPER PA28 161 operated by NORTH STAR AVIATION INC was involved in an aviation accident near Mankato, MN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and subsequent go-around during which the student exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 14 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot bounced during landing on runway 33, initiated a go-around, then the airplane stalled, impacted terrain, and collided with a golf cart occupied by the flight instructor. No mechanical issues were found.

Narrative

A student pilot was conducting a landing on runway 33. During touchdown, the airplane bounced hard. The pilot added power and commenced a go-around. After becoming airborne, the airplane began to drift left. It then entered an aerodynamic stall, impacted the ground, and struck a golf cart adjacent to the runway. The golf cart was occupied by the student pilot's flight instructor.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing.

Weather Information

Approximately four minutes before the accident, the automated weather observation station at the airport reported wind from 080 degrees at 6 knots. The landing was attempted on runway 33.

Mechanical Examination

The chief pilot of the flight school stated that no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions were found with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

Causes

Capability exceededLanding flare — Not attained/maintainedStudent/instructed pilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on operationContributed to outcome