# Accident 20231104019059A: Piper PA-18-150, Tompkinsville, KY, November 4, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 4, 2023, 08:20 local time
- Place: Tompkinsville, KY
- Airport: Tompkinsville-Monroe County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.7290° N, 85.6524° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7290&lon=-85.6524&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4056Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4056Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,506 total, 162 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231104019059A

## Narrative

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

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT: ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS A POST MAINTENANCE FLIGHT FOLLOWING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THERE WAS ONE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT CLIMBED TO 3000 FEET AND PERFORMED SEVERAL MANEUVERS. THERE WERE NO MALFUNCTIONS OR ABNORMALITIES.

PILOT INITIATED A SIMULATED EMERGENCY DESCENT TO RUNWAY FOR A LANDING. PILOT STATED THAT AT 10 TO 15 FEET AGL, FULL FLAPS, ENGINE AT IDLE, NO SLIP, NEAR THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD, THEY MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED A DOWNDRAFT RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING, TOUCHING DOWN IN GRASS JUST SHORT OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED DAMAGED AIRCRAFT WITH NO INJURIES. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO AIRPORT PROPERTY AND NO POST-ACCIDENT FIRE.

## 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 ERA24LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA035), Nov 4, 2023: Piper PA18 (N4056Z), Tompkinsville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Other reports on N4056Z (1)

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

- [Accident 19970507013949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970507013949A), May 7, 1997: Piper PA18150 (N4056Z), Rogers City, MI, Substantial damage. (.4)According to the pilot, the tailwheel began to shimmy during the landing roll and the tailwheel spring on the left side became disconnected. The airplane…

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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