Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate flare and failure to maintain aircraft control during landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot was making the last landing on his solo cross-country flight. On final approach the airspeed was high, and the airplane floated down the runway. The airplane landed hard and bounced back into the air. After the bounce, he applied power to abort the landing, but the airplane landed hard again, and the nose landing gear collapsed.
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage firewall.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR14CA260 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 20, 2014
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Nearest airport
- Phoenix Deer Valley (DVT)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA 28-181
- N-number
- N928PA
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1999
- 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.