# Accident 20020511009759A: Piper PA28140, Monument Valley, UT, May 11, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 2002, 12:15 local time
- Place: Monument Valley, UT
- Airport: Monument Valley Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.0153° N, 110.2014° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0153&lon=-110.2014&mi=10
- Aircraft: N345M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N345M-2007-12-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 400 total, 400 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN02LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA042) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020511009759A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON MAY 11, 2002, AT APPROXIMATELY 1220 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-28-140, N345M, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A HARD LANDING AT MONUMENT VALLEY AIRPORT, MONUMENT, UTAH. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT THAT ORIGINATED FROM CHANDLER MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, CHANDLER, ARIZONA AT 0913. THE PILOT HAD NOT FILED A FLIGHT PLAN. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE RESEARCHED THE NTSB DATABASE ON ACCIDENTS AT THIS AIRPORT. HE WAS AWARE OF THE NORMAL PROCEDURES REGARDING CARRYING MORE AIRSPEED AND PLACING THE AIRCRAFT "FIRMLY" ON THE RUNWAY. HE ARRIVED AT THE AIRPORT 2-3 HOURS AFTER THE PLANNED ARRIVAL TIME. AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN AIR SPEED DUE TO A "SUDDEN WIND SHIFT/SHEAR." THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY AND THE NOSE GEAR FAILED BENDING THE ENGINE MOUNT, FIREWALL, AND COWLING. (-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ON SHORT FINAL DURING GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. AIRSPEED SUDDENLY DECREASED AND AIRCRAFT DROPPED IMPACTING ON NOSE GEAR BENDING PROPEL                                       LOR, COLLAPSING NOSE GEAR, DAMAGE TO FIREWALL AND BUCKLING EMPENNAGE. (.4) ON MAY 11, 2002, AT APPROXIMATELY 1220 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-28-140B, N345M, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FOLLOWING IMPACT WITH TERRAIN SUBSEQUENT TO AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH AT MONUMENT VALLEY AIRPORT, MONUMENT VALLEY, UTAH. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT THAT ORIGINATED FROM CHANDLER MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, CHANDLER, ARIZONA, AT 1013. THE PILOT HAD NOT FILED A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE RESEARCHED THE AIRPORT BEFORE HIS FLIGHT. HE WAS AWARE OF THE NORMAL PROCEDURES REGARDING CARRYING MORE AIRSPEED AND PLACING THE AIRCRAFT "FIRMLY" ON THE RUNWAY. HE ARRIVED AT THE DESTINATION 2-3 HOURS AFTER THE PLANNED ARRIVAL TIME. AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN AIR SPEED DUE TO A "SUDDEN WIND SHIFT/SHEAR." THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTED AN EARTH BERM. THE NOSE WHEEL LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AFT, AND THE ENGINE MOUNT, ENGINE FIREWALL, COWLING AND F     USELAGE WERE BENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN02LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA042), May 11, 2002: Piper PA-28-140B (N345M), Monument Valley, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadvertent stall/mush to the ground during landing flare. Contributing factors were the earth berm along the side of the runway, and the wind shear weather condition on short final.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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