Accident Piper PA-28R-201 N9816C, Sunday 17 September 1989

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Date:	Sunday 17 September 1989
Time:	14:15 LT
Type:	Piper PA-28R-201
Owner/operator:	Aretz Flying Service, Inc.
Registration:	N9816C
MSN:	28R-783222
Total airframe hrs:	4104 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming IO-360-C1C6
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Delphi, IN - United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:	Lafayette, IN (3AR)
Destination airport:	Delphi, IN (1I9)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE COMMERCIAL STUDENT PILOT AND HIS INSTRUCTOR WERE ON FINAL APPROACH, WHEN THE AIRPLANE GOT INTO A HIGH SINK RATE AND ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION, BUT A HARD LANDING OCCURRED JUST SHORT OF THE RUNWAY DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT.

Probable Cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR THE HIGH SINK RATE THAT DEVELOPED ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DOWNDRAFT AND THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER RATE OF DESCENT ON FINAL APPROACH.

Accident investigation: