Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot stated that the airplane touched down hard, bounced, and floated sideways before touching down again on the right main landing gear then the nose landing gear. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The owner of the airplane stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA12CA228 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 15, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Nearest airport
- Charleston Executive (JZI)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-28-151
- N-number
- N832KF
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.