Piper PA-28-161 N616FT

Summary

On 26 February 2009 at about 19:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N616FT, operated by F I T Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Melbourne, Florida, 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

26 February 2009 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Melbourne, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Melbourne International Airpor (MLB)

Coordinates

28.1061, -80.6414

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N616FT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

F I T Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Melbourne → Melbourne

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11LA067

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's inadequate crosswind landing technique and the certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action, 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

According to the student pilot, the purpose of the instructional flight was to practice crosswind landings. The flight was to be the student pilot's last flight in preparation for his first solo flight. The certified flight instructor (CFI) who was giving the instruction reported that the airplane was landed hard with a side load. Inspection of the airplane after the flight revealed a crack in the right wing’s rear spar. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.