# Accident 20191210017429A: Piper PA-28-235, Louisville, KY, December 10, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 10, 2019, 13:03 local time
- Place: Louisville, KY
- Airport: Bowman
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.2308° N, 85.6578° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2308&lon=-85.6578&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9097W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9097W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-235 (registry code 7102810, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (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-28-235
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,877 total, 361 in this make and model, 227 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA053) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191210017429A

## Narrative

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

PILOTS STATEMENT OF ACCIDENT INVOLVING CHEROKEE 235, PA28-235, TAIL# N9097W, SERIAL #28-10707

DATE, TIME, LOCATION: TUES 10 DEC 2019, APPROX 1:10 EST, RWY 24 AT KLOU

SUMMARY: I WAS PILOTING N9097W ON A VFR FLIGHT ORIGINATING AT KBWG CRUISE ALTITUDE 3,500 MSL TO KLOU VIA BWG. I CONTACTED LOU APPR ON 132.07 TO OBTAIN RADAR SERVICE TO KLOU. I WAS ASSIGNED A SQUAWK CODE AND A HEADING OF 040 AT EWO. I PROCEEDED AS SUCH UNTIL DESCENDED TO 2,500 MSL AND ASSIGNED DIRECT TO KLOU. WEATHER WAS VFR, SOME LIGHT BUFFETING BY WIND AND A WIND OUT OF NW AT ABOUT 26KTS ACCORDING TO FLYQ ON MY EFB. WHEN I REPORTED LOU IN SIGHT, I WAS DIRECTED TO CONTACT BOWMAN TOWER ON 119.5.

I CONTACTED BOWMAN TOWER AND REPORTED A 3 MILE LEFT BASE POSITION AND ADVISED THAT I WAS CLEARED FOR VISUAL ON 24. I BEGAN DESCENT TO PATTERN ALTITUDE, BEGAN BEFORE LANDING PROCEDURES, AND SPEED REDUCTION.

I TURNED TO FINAL WITH PLANE IN LANDING CONFIGURATION, REDUCING SPEED AND DESCENDING ON THE VASI DESCENT GUIDANCE WITH NO IRREGULAR INDICATIONS OF PLANE OPERATION. INFO Z WAS PRESENT WITH CIR, 10 VIS WINDS 280@7. I SET UP TO LAND AT APPROACH SPEED WITH SLIGHT CROSS WIND LANDING CONFIGURATION AND DESCENDED TO WITHIN GND EFFECT OF RWY 24 AND BEGAN TO FLARE NOSE FOR LANDING WHEN THE NOSE OF THE PLANE JERKED DOWN AND I WAS UNABLE TO PHYSICALLY CONTROL THE YOKE AND IMPACTED THE PAVEMENT OF RWY 24 WITH THE NOSE GEAR.

N9097W SUFFERED A COLLAPSED NOSE GEAR, BENT PROP TIPS, RIGHT WING BROKE LATERAL TO RIGHT MAIN FUEL CELL, AND ENDED TAIL UP AT ABOUT A 30 DEGREE ANGLE. THE PLANE WAS AT A SPEED JUST ABOVE STALL LIGHT BLINKING SO IMPACT DID NOT PRODUCE ANY BODILY INJURY TO ME. THE PLANE CAME TO REST AT ABOUT THE RUNWAY AIMING POINT TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY CENTER LINE WITH NOSE GEAR AND LEFT MAIN GEAR IN GRASS AND RIGHT MAIN WHEEL STILL ON RUNWAY. NO AIRPORT PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE.

I SECURED THE PLANE'S FUEL TANKS, POWER AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. IT WAS NOTED BY ONE OF THE ARRIVING PERSONNEL ON GROUND THAT THE ELEVATOR WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. THERE WAS NO GUST LOCK AS THE PLANE DOES NOT HAVE ONE. I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE UNCOMMANDED SUDDEN NOSE DOWN OF THE PLANE WHEN I TRIED TO FLARE FOR A NORMAL LANDING.

THE FAA OPERATION INSPECTOR ARRIVED, BEGAN SURVEYING THE OCCURRENCE AND THE AIRPORT PERSONNEL BEGAN CLEANUP OPERATIONS AND CLEARING THE RUNWAY. I WAS DEBRIEFED AND MY PILOT DOCUMENTS EVALUATED. THE PLANE WAS TOWED TO A SECURE HANGAR IN THE WEST TS AT BOWMAN AIRPORT WHERE IT IS TODAY WEDNESDAY 11 DEC 2019.

STATEMENT OF ACCIDENT PREPARED BY ^JOSEPH D. LYVERS^ ON 11 DEC 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 ERA20LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA053), Dec 10, 2019: Piper PA28 (N9097W), Louisville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper flare to land, which resulted in a hard landing and the nose landing gear collapsing.

## Other reports on N9097W (2)

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

- [Accident 19810329013039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810329013039A), Mar 29, 1981: Piper PA28235 (N9097W), Hugoton, KS, Substantial damage. Pilot could not maintain directinal control during crosswind landing. Aircraft hit ditch & crashed.
- [Incident 19790607015379I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790607015379I), Jun 7, 1979: Piper PA28235 (N9097W), Casper, WY, Minor damage. Tires and nose gear damaged in hard landing. Flight instructor onboard.

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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