Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper landing flare and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose landing gear collapse.
NTSB analysis
The flight instructor reported that the student pilot began the landing flare too high, then suddenly pitched the airplane up 10 to 15 degrees. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and added engine power but the airplane landed hard, bounced, and began to porpoise down the runway, during which the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and engine mount. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA26LA074 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Dec 16, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Fort Lauderdale Exec (FXE)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper Aircraft Inc PA-28-181
- N-number
- N472A
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2013
- 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.