Piper PA-28R-200 N41517

Summary

On 5 March 2008 at about 16:20 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N41517, operated by Wright Flyers Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near San Antonio, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 March 2008 at 16:20

Classification

Accident

Location

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Stinson Municipal Airport (KSSF)

Coordinates

29.3406, -98.4719

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N41517

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wright Flyers Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Antonio → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW08CA077

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was asked to perform a power-off 180 degree accuracy landing as part of the practical test for a commercial pilot certification. The first attempt was terminated with a go-around. The second approach appeared normal according to the designated pilot examiner onboard, until approximately five seconds before touchdown. At that point the airplane rate of descent increased to approximately 1000 feet per minute and the airspeed slowed below 75 miles per hour and the airplane "dropped onto the runway." Neither the pilot nor examiner noticed any apparent damage at that time and elected to continue the flight. Upon completion of the flight the airplane was examined by maintenance for a hard landing and substantial damage was confirmed to both wings at the landing gear assembly mounts.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.