Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly judge the flare altitude.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that she flared 8 to 10 feet above the runway and stalled the airplane. The airplane pitched nose down and landed on the nose gear. The nose gear collapsed, damaging the fire wall.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 29, 1997, at 1258 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N2128Q, collapsed the nose gear during a landing on runway 11 at the Little River, California, airport. The airplane was rented by the pilot from the West Valley Flying Club for a personal flight and was substantially damaged. The certificated private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight originated in Palo Alto, California, about 1125. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The pilot said she flared 8 to 10 feet above the runway and stalled the airplane. The airplane pitched nose down and landed on the nose gear. The nose gear collapsed, damaging the fire wall. -