Piper PA28 accident near Elberton, Georgia, June 1, 2009
On June 1, 2009 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA28, registered N8909W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Elberton, Georgia (Elbert County 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 student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2009 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Elberton, Georgia · Elbert County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 235 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N8909W · no longer on the register · serial 28-10477
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that he returned from a solo cross-country flight and entered the traffic pattern for landing. During touchdown, the airplane's nose pitched up and the pilot subsequently pulled back on the flight controls. The airplane became airborne, then settled and bounced a second time on the runway. After a third and more pronounced bounce, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop toward the left side of the runway. When the pilot was asked how the accident could have been prevented, he stated that he should have performed an aborted landing after the first bounce. Examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the engine firewall, engine mount, and the rudder. The student pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 23 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 23, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,243 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2009; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLJ Milledgeville GA at 6:20 pm
- Destination: 27A Elberton GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from AND, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.