Piper PA-44-180 accident near Bunnell, Florida, May 28, 1990
On May 28, 1990 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-44-180, registered N2171N, 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 DUAL STUDENTS FAILURE TO FLARE PROPERLY DURING A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO PROPERLY MONITOR THE STUDENT DURING THE SIMULATED FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1990 · about 1:45 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
- N2171N · no longer on the register · serial 44-7995225
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FLT INSTRUCTOR RETARDED THROTTLE ON LT. ENG. AFTER LIFT OFF . STUDENT RETARDED THROTTLE ON RT. ENG. AND LOWERED NOSE TO DESCEND TO RUNWAY FOR LANDING. EXCESSIVE SPEED WAS GAINED IN THE DESCENT AND THE STUDENT FLARED IMPROPERLY RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING AND SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,511 hours in all; 113 in this make and model; 315 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,383 as pilot in command; 1,123 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,522 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 12, 1990; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-E1A60 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:31 pm from DAB, 15 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.