# Accident 20230407003669A: Piper PA-32-260, Sebastian, FL, April 7, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 7, 2023, 14:43 local time
- Place: Sebastian, FL
- Airport: Sebastian Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.8133° N, 80.4956° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8133&lon=-80.4956&mi=10
- Aircraft: N44588, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44588) (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: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 608 total, 14 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23FA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA185) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230407003669A

## Narrative

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

AT APPROXIMATELY 14:43 EDT ON 04/07/2023, A PA-32-260, LANDING AT THE SEBASTIAN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (X26), SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA, RUNWAY 10, HAD EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING, AN AERODYNAMIC STALL, AND LOST OF CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL AIRCRAFT DAMAGE AND FATALLY INJURING THE PILOT (THE SOLE OCCUPANT). THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT WITH VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) PREVAILING.

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES’ STATEMENTS, THE AIRCRAFT MADE A NORMAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 10, LEVELED OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 5FT-15FT OVER THE RUNWAY AT A LOW AIRSPEED.  AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO THE RUNWAY, IT TOUCHDOWN “HARD” ON THE NOSE BEFORE BOUNCING BACK UP INTO THE AIR.  WITNESSES HEARD ENGINE POWER ADDED AND SAW THE AIRCRAFT TURN 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, WHILE IT PROGRESSIVELY ROLLED INTO AN APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREE BANK ANGLE.  THE AIRCRAFT LOST ALTITUDE AS IT TURNED AND THE LEFT WINGTIP CONTACTED THE GROUND, FOLLOWED BY THE AIRCRAFT’S NOSE, AND “CART WHEELED” IN THE GRASS, NORTH OF RUNWAY 10.

THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST (APPROXIMATELY 500 FT. FROM RUNWAY CENTERLINE), AT AN APPROXIMATE 45 DEGREE ANGLE FROM UPSIDE DOWN, FACING SOUTHEAST, WITH THE LEFT WING RESIDING IN FRONT AND TO THE LEFT OF THE AIRCRAFT’S NOSE AND THE RIGHT WING RESTING ON TOP OF THE WRECKAGE HANGING OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT.  SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE OBSERVED THROUGHOUT THE WRECKAGE TO INCLUDE THE FUSELAGE, EMPENNAGE, L/R WINGS, LANDING GEAR, ENGINE, AND PROPELLER.

POST-ACCIDENT ENGINE AND PROPELLER WITNESS MARKS INDICATE ENGINE POWER AT TIME OF GROUND IMPACT.  EXAMINATION OF THROTTLE QUADRANT REVEALS THROTTLE IN FULL OPEN POSITION, PROPELLER CONTROL – FULL FORWARD, AND MIXTURE CONTROL- FULL RICH.

WHEN AND IF FURTHER INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE, THIS REPORT MAY BE UPDATED OR AMENDED ACCORDINGLY.

## 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 ERA23FA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA185), Apr 7, 2023: Piper PA-32-260 (N44588), Sebastian, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.

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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