Elbert County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elberton, Georgia 30635
Monday, June 1, 2009 15:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/1/2009
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Elberton
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30635
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 340543N
Event Location Longitude 0824834W
Event Location Airport Elbert County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 27A
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 603
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1456 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID AND
Elevation of weather observation facility 782
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25736
NTSB Notification Source SROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 18 2009 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8909W
NTSB Number ERA09CA318
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA28
Aircraft Series Identifier 235
Aircraft Serial Number 28-10477
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 May 15 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 3243
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name Echols Mill Aviation LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Elberton
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30635
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name David W. Dye
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Elberton
Operator State GA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 30635
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code MLJ
Departure City Milledgeville
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1420
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 27A
Destination City Elberton
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 18 2009 10:31AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --