# Accident 20201112014849A: Piper PA-22-135, Salem, IN, November 12, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 12, 2020, 17:30 local time
- Place: Salem, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.6024° N, 86.1452° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6024&lon=-86.1452&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3535A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3535A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22-135 (registry code 7102206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,210 total, 70 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA060) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201112014849A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 12, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30PM (EST), A SINGLE ENGINE PIPER PA-22 AIRPLANE (N3535A) IMPACTED THE LANDING STRIP THRESHOLD DURING FINAL APPROACH TO A PRIVATE LANDING STRIP ADJACENT TO SALEM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (I83). THE PILOT (SINGLE OCCUPANT) SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING FINAL APPROACH HE FELT A JOLT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY PITCHED NOSE DOWN, IMPACTED THE PAVEMENT, AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT SLID ON ITS NOSE APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET FROM INITIAL IMPACT.

A 4 FOOT PILE OF DIRT AT THE THRESHOLD OF THE LANDING STRIP APPEARED TO HAVE FRESH SOIL DISTURBANCE AND CONTAINED FRAGMENTS OF THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT LANDING GEAR FAIRING. DIRT AND FAIRING FRAGMENTS FROM THE LEFT GEAR TRAILED FROM THE DIRT PILE TO WHERE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A REST. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS DETACHED FROM THE AIRFRAME SUPPORT STRUCTURE. THE TUBING CLUSTER THAT CONNECTS THE FUSELAGE WITH THE LEFT WING SPAR (BRACE) AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS SEPARATED. DIRT AND WEEDS CONSISTENCE WITH THE 4 FOOT HIGH DIRT PILE WAS OBSERVED IN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR AND WHERE THE TUBING CLUSTER SEPARATED. THE AIRFRAME TUBING ALONG THE LOWER LEFT FUSELAGE WAS SEPARATED AND PROTRUDING IN THE AIRPLANE CABIN.

THIS LANDING STRIP WAS DECOMMISSIONED BY THE SALEM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT WHEN THE NEW RUNWAY WAS CONSTRUCTED. THE LANDING STRIP AND LAND IS NOW PRIVATELY OWNED.

## 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 CEN21LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA060), Nov 12, 2020: Piper PA22 (N3535A), Salem, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to avoid an obstacle during his approach to land.

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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