Originally Posted by Lister Noble
I didn’t want to post this on the tragic accident thread, as we don’t know the real reason for the crash,and supposition doesn't help anybody.
We were talking about it last night with some very experienced pilots and I recalled that when I was early into solos on the PA28-180, I was on short final and the controls went a bit sloppy, I looked at airspeed and it was 65 knots!
I lowered the nose slightly and increased power and thankfully everything worked out OK, I’ve not done it since because it was a real wake up call and I now always keep my eye alternately on the airspeed and outside view.
I know I’m low hours, but perhaps that makes this more relevant for all students.
There is a high workload on the base and final approach and it is easy to forget the most important thing when you are concentrating on other stuff.
Lister
65 knots is the final approach speed for a PA28-180, and the controls do feel sloppy at that speed - requiring you to think well ahead of the aeroplane. (And actually, solo you can come down to 60 quite safely - or at-least I can).
This is not to detract from your very valid point - most major piloting errors in GA do happen on base and short finals, and often do involve speed / pitch control problems. BUT, they aren't helped by low hour pilots not being taught how to fly the aeroplane properly in the first place. Out of interest, what speed were you taught to fly finals at, and how did they justify a departure from the POH? Or did they not even give you a POH to read (a personal crusade of mine)?
G