Piper PA-44-180 accident near Bunnell, Florida, February 4, 1989
On February 4, 1989 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-44-180, registered N2124H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bunnell, Florida (Flagler County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER AIRSPEED DURING A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE ON INITIAL CLIMB. THE INSTRUCTOR, AFTER TAKING CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, ALSO FAILED TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING DURING WHICH THE GEAR COLLAPSED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 1989 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bunnell, Florida · Flagler County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-44-180 · all PA-44-180s on the register
- Registration
- N2124H · no longer on the register · serial 44-7995162
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF, THE INSTRUCTOR PLT RETARDED THE LEFT ENG THROTTLE TO IDLE, SIMULATING AN ENG FAILURE. THE STUDENT RETARDED THE OTHER THROTTLE TO IDLE, LOWERED FULL FLAPS, THEN THE INSTRUCTOR ASSUMED CONTROL. AFTER FLARING TO LAND AT AN ALT OF APRX 20 FT ABOVE THE RWY, THE AIRSPEED DETERIORATED RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,814 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 238 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 1,614 as pilot in command; 1,070 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,900 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 14, 1988; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-E1A6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from DAB, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.