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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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October 20, 1999 · Piper PA-24-250 · N8078P

Bozeman, MT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 20, 1999
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Bozeman, MT
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Tail Number
N8078P
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA00LA006

The private pilot, whose flight review had expired, was in the process of completing a flight review recurrency flight, when the instructor reduced the power and asked him to execute a simulated forced landing. As he stretched the glide in an attempt to make it to the approach end of the runway, the airspeed became lower than normal approach speed. Although the aircraft was able to reach the end of the runway, just after it crossed the threshold, it dropped onto the runway with sufficient force to cause substantial damage. Although the airspeed had slowed below normal approach speed as the aircraft neared the approach end of the runway, the instructor pilot did not add power, nor did she call for termination of the simulated forced landing exercise.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot-in-command's (CFI) failure to take remedial action. Factors include the private pilot letting the airspeed get too low.

Full Narrative

On October 20, 1999, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N8078P, experienced a hard landing during a simulated engine-out approach at Gallatin Field, Bozeman, Montana. The flight instructor and the private pilot received minor injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the private pilot, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, which began about 60 minutes prior to the accident, was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to an FAA Inspector from the Helena FSDO, the private pilot's flight review was not current, and this was an instructional flight which he hoped would be the basis for renewing his review. The inspector said that during the review, the flight instructor reduced the engine power in order to simulate an engine failure, and then instructed the private pilot to land the aircraft. According to the private pilot, he tried to "stretch" the glide in order to reach the end of the runway, but the airspeed began to slow, and the aircraft dropped in hard just after crossing the runway threshold. Although the airspeed had slowed below normal approach speed as the aircraft neared the approach end of the runway, the instructor pilot did not attempt to add power, nor did she call for termination of the simulated forced landing exercise.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:00 MDT
Nearest AirportGallatin Field (0nm)
Runway21
Runway Length2650 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-250
Tail NumberN8078P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540--A1D5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 52 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data