# Accident 20040102000539A: Piper PA32RT300, Indianapolis, IN, January 2, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 2, 2004, 14:23 local time
- Place: Indianapolis, IN
- Airport: Metropolitan Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.9353° N, 86.0450° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9353&lon=-86.0450&mi=10
- Aircraft: N21992, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21992) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32RT-300 (registry code 7103215, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32RT300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,320 total, 863 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI04LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA052) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040102000539A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN IFR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 33 AT INDIANAPOLIS METRO AIRPORT CIRCLE TO LAND ON RUNWAY 15. DURING THE CIRCLE APPROACH THE LEFT WING OF PIPER (N21992) MADE CONTACT WITH TREES CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A SUCCESSFUL LANDING ON RUNWAY 15 AT (UMP) INDIANAPOLIS METRO AIRPORT.

## 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 CHI04LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA052), Jan 2, 2004: Piper PA-32RT-300 (N21992), Fishers, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from the trees during the circling approach, his continued descent below minimum descent altitude, and the pilot not performing a missed approach. A…

## Other reports on N21992 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19870124016989I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870124016989I), Jan 24, 1987: Piper PA32RT300 (N21992), Lincoln, RI, Minor damage. Left main gear collapsed on rollout. Damage to wing tip, aileron and flap. Left main gear was broken.

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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