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

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

No fatalities • Mankato, MN, United States

Probable cause

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.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The student pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane bounced hard. She added power to go around, and as the airplane became airborne it began to drift to the left. The airplane aerodynamically stalled, impacted terrain, and collided with a golf cart adjacent the runway, which was occupied by the student pilot's flight instructor.

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

The Chief Pilot of the flight school reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 4 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 080° at 6 knots. The airplane landed on runway 33.

Contributing factors

  • cause Capability exceeded
  • cause Landing flare — Not attained/maintained
  • cause Student/instructed pilot
  • Effect on operation
  • Effect on operation
  • Contributed to outcome

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 080/06kt, vis 10sm

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