# Accident 20120321003749A: Piper PA-22-150, Pinconning, MI, March 21, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 21, 2012, 19:18 local time
- Place: Pinconning, MI
- Airport: Gross Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.8469° N, 84.0114° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8469&lon=-84.0114&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2389P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2389P-2014-09-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22-150 (registry code 7102210, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 697 total, 7 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA197) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120321003749A

## Narrative

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

N MARCH 21, 2012, AT 1918 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-22-150 AIRPLANE, N2389P, WASSUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE LANDING AT GROSS AIRPORT (52I), PINCONNING, MICHIGAN. THE PILOTSUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL,UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. DAY VISUALMETEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED JAMES CLEMENTSMUNICIPAL AIRPORT (3CM), BAY CITY, MICHIGAN, ABOUT 1900.ACCORDING TO THE AIRPORT MANAGER, WHO ALSO WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE GLAREOF THE SETTING SUN OBSCURED HIS VISION DURING HIS INITIAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 27 (2,565 FEET BY 100FEET, GRASS/TURF) AND HE ELECTED TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND. WHILE MANEUVERING IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN,THE PILOT REPORTEDLY PUT-ON HIS SUNGLASSES AND INSTALLED A WINDSHIELD SUN-SCREEN IN AN ATTEMPT TOREDUCE THE GLARE OF THE SUN. DURING THE NEXT LANDING APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREEAND A NORTH/SOUTH POWER LINE LOCATED ABOUT 75 YARDS NORTH OF THE RUNWAY EDGE. THE WRECKAGE DEBRISPATH WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE AIRPLANE TRAVELING WESTBOUND WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE OBSTACLES.AT 1914, THE AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM LOCATED AT JACK BARSTOW AIRPORT (KIKW), LOCATEDABOUT 18 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, REPORTED THE FOLLOWING WEATHER CONDITIONS: WIND 220DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS; VISIBILITY 10 MILES; SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 8,000 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL;TEMPERATURE 29 DEGREES CELSIUS; DEW POINT 10 DEGREES CELSIUS; ALTIMETER SETTING 30.06 INCHES OFMERCURY.ASTRONOMICAL DATA OBTAINED FROM THE UNITED STATES NAVAL OBSERVATORY INDICATED THAT THE LOCAL SUNSETWAS AT 1950, ABOUT 32 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE END OF CIVIL TWILIGHT WAS LISTED AT 2019.

## 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 CEN12LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA197), Mar 21, 2012: Piper PA-22-150 (N2389P), Pinconning, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly align his airplane with the runway during final approach. Contributing to the accident was the sunglare that obscured the pilot's view of the runway.

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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