# Accident 20181103025179A: Piper PA-28-236, Merced, CA, November 3, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 3, 2018, 19:21 local time
- Place: Merced, CA
- Airport: Merced Regional/Macready Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2847° N, 120.5139° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2847&lon=-120.5139&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2956B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2956B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-236 (registry code 7102815, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-236) (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-28-236
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 353 total, 251 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA052) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181103025179A

## Narrative

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

WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 30 AT MCE AT NIGHT, AIRCRAFT DESCENDED BELOW GLIDEPATH, STRIKING AND   DAMAGING THE 1400 FT, 1200 FT,AND 1000 FT APPROACH LIGHTS SYSTEM, BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE. AIRCRAFT WAS ABLE TO TAXI TO THE PARKING AREA ON OWN POWER. THE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THERE WAS SUBSTANIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS AND RIGHT REAR SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE.

## 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 GAA19CA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA052), Nov 4, 2018: Piper PA28 (N2956B), Merced, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper glidepath during a landing at night, which resulted in a collision with approach lights.

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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