Piper PA-28-161 accident near W. Lafayette, Indiana, September 17, 1994
On September 17, 1994 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N523PU, was substantially damaged in an accident near W. Lafayette, Indiana (Purdue University airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LEVEL-OFF AND RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TRAINING FOR RECOVERY FROM BOUNCED LANDINGS AND/OR ABORTED TAKEOFFS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1994 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- W. Lafayette, Indiana · Purdue University · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N523PU · registry record · serial 2841188
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE STUDENT'S FIRST SOLO. HE STATED THAT DURING HIS FIRST LANDING ATTEMPT THE AIRPLANE FLOATED AND...'HIT KIND OF HARD AND BOUNCE A LITTLE.' HE APPLIED FULL POWER FOR A GO-AROUND AND THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. IT SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH A SMALL HILL AND BECAME AIRBORNE. THE AIRPLANE THEN SKIDDED SIDEWAYS THROUGH THE AIR, AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR IT WAS REVEALED THAT SHE DID NOT INSTRUCT THE STUDENT IN RECOVERY FROM BOUNCED LANDINGS OR ABORTED/REJECTED TAKEOFFS. A REVIEW OF THE STUDENT'S LOGBOOK, SCHOOL CURRICULUM, AND APPLICABLE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS REVEALED NO SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT FOR INSTRUCTION IN RECOVERY FROM BOUNCED LANDINGS AND/OR ABORTED TAKEOFFS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 14 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,079 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 31, 1994; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,332 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,226 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from LAF, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N523PU the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.