# Accident 20120512010949A: Piper PA-32-260, Lexington, MI, May 12, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 12, 2012, 15:00 local time
- Place: Lexington, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.3519° N, 82.5583° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3519&lon=-82.5583&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4727S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4727S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-260 (registry code 7103206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 927 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA339) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120512010949A

## Narrative

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

ON 5/12/2012, N4727S DEPARTED KAGC FOR 7MI. THE PILOT FOLLOWED THE GPS TO THE INTENDED LOCATION, CIRCLED THE FIELD AND LINED UP FOR A LANDING ON 27. HE MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING AND TAXIED TO THE WEST END OF THE FIELD AT APPROX 1200 LOCAL TIME.  THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THE LOCATION HE HAD LANDED AT WAS NOT THE INTENDED GRASS STRIP, BUT A FRESHLY PLANTED CORN FIELD. WHEN READY TO DEPART, HE TAXIED BACK TO THE EAST WITH INTENTIONS TO DEPART TO THE WEST AT APPROX 1500 LOCAL TIME. DURING THE TAXI, HE TAXIED ACROSS THE RUTS IN THE FIELD. IN THE BOTTOM OF A RUT, THE NOSE GEAR ABRUPTLY TURNED TO THE RIGHT, AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FACING ESE, WITH DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, PROPELLER AND NOSE GEAR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

## 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 CEN12LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA339), May 12, 2012: Piper PA-32-260 (N4727S), Applegate, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to attempt to take off from an unimproved field, which resulted in a collapsed nose landing gear.

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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