Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Chandler, Arizona, September 28, 2011
On September 28, 2011 at about 6:11 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N8056B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Chandler, Arizona (Chandler Municipal 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 certified flight instructor's and pilot-undergoing-instruction's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2011 · about 6:11 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Chandler Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N8056B · registry record · serial 28R-8218011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the certified flight instructor (CFI) and pilot-undergoing-instruction (PUI) completed the landing checklist, but delayed the landing gear extension because they were conducting a 180-degree power-off approach. On final approach, as they were preparing to extend the landing gear, the air traffic controller told them to conduct a go-around because the landing gear was not extended. They extended the landing gear, and the CFI verified three green lights. He then requested permission to land and the tower controller cleared the airplane to land. As the airplane approached the runway, a high sink rate developed. The CFI told the PUI to add power, and the CFI simultaneously started to move the throttle control forward. The CFI said that his hand slipped past the PUI's hand, and he reached again to push the throttle forward when the airplane touched down hard on the runway. They aborted the landing, conducted a low approach to verify the position of the landing gear, and landed uneventfully. A postaccident examination revealed rib damage to the left wing. The CFI reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Flight crew
Flight instructor
- 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: 7,514 hours in all; 179 in this make and model; 89 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 7,214 as pilot in command; 7,214 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 31, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 531 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 291 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 6, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,397 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 2011; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chandler Air Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: CHD Chandler AZ at 5:55 pm
- Destination: CHD Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04L, 4,870 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from CHD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.