Melbourne Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Melbourne, Florida 32901
Tuesady, September 26, 1995 13:48 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. DURING THE SECOND LANDING ON RUNWAY 9 THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED AS HE FLARED. THE AIRCRAFT ALSO DRIFTED TO THE LEFT DUE TO A CROSSWIND. THE STUDENT APPLIED FULL POWER AND INITIATED A GO-AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY AND THEN RAN OFF THE RUNWAY. HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH RUNWAY SIGNS, SEPARATED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR, AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 130 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CROSSWIND.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1348
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MELBOURNE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32901
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MELBOURNE REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MLB
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation 35
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID MLB
Elevation of weather observation facility 35
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 811
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 26 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1520
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N607FT
NTSB Number MIA95LA235
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 2841215
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 23 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 3214
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FLORIDA INST. OF TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 150 WEST UNIVERSITY
Aircraft Owner City MELBOURNE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32901
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MLB
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9L
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --