Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing; and his loss of directional control, which was followed by impact with trees.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that his right foot bumped on the right brake during a 'hard landing,' causing the airplane to turn to the right toward trees. He elected to abort the landing, but after verring to the right, the airplane struck trees. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact discrepancy with the brakes or flight controls.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 25, 1996, about 1345 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3, N2CE, registered to a private owner, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight, crashed while on an aborted landing at the Aiken Airport, Aiken, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot was not injured. After landing, during a touch-and-go, the pilot stated that the cause of the accident was, "...[his] right foot bumping on [the] right brake during [a] hard landing, caused [the] airplane [to] turn to [the] right toward trees...." The pilot elected to abort the landing, the airplane veered to the right, and struck trees. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any discrepancies with the brakes, or the flight controls. -