# Accident 20240408004179A: Piper PA-24-250, Carrabassett Va, ME, April 8, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 8, 2024, 11:30 local time
- Place: Carrabassett Va, ME
- Airport: Sugarloaf Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.0853° N, 70.2163° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0853&lon=-70.2163&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6465P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6465P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (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-24-250
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,150 total, 720 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA177) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240408004179A

## Narrative

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

ON 4/8/24 AT ABOUT 1130 HOURS LOCAL TIME A PA24 SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE, EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING SHORT OF RUNWAY 35 AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THERE WERE FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD AT THE TIME AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A SIGNIFICANT VERTICAL IMPACT WITH THE GROUND INCLUDING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND WINGS, CONSISTENT WITH A HARD LANDING. PROPELLER DAMAGE INDICATED ENGINE POWER DURING IMPACT.

THE PIC STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT DEPARTED NASHUA NH AND HIS INTENDED POINT OF LANDING WAS SUGARLOAF REGIONAL. AS HE BEGAN HIS DECENT INTO THE AIRPORT THE REPORTED WINDS WERE 250 AT 7 KNOTS GUSTING TO 15 SO HE ELECTED TO USE RUNWAY 35. ON FINAL APPROACH HE HELD AN INDICATED AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 95 MPH WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE FINAL APPROACH BEING UNEVENTFUL. AT ABOUT 50-100 FEET ABOVE GROUND THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY BEGAN A RAPID DECENT. THE PIC REPORTED THAT HE IMMEDIATELY APPLIED FULL THROTTLE AND RIGHT RUDDER TO BEGIN A GO AROUND BUT THE YOKE CONTROL FELT “MUSHY”. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND AND THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE GROUND PRIOR TO THE RUNWAY. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT THE AIRPLANE FLEW FOR ANOTHER 75 FEET OR SO BEFORE FALLING ONTO THE RUNWAY AND SLIDING TO A STOP. THE PIC SAID THAT HE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY STALL WARNING THROUGHOUT THE FINAL APPROACH. HE ADDED THAT HE DID FEEL THAT THE WIND WAS MORE OF A LEFT CROSSWIND THAN A HEADWIND DURING FINAL APPROACH.

THE STATEMENTS OF THE PIC AND DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT INDICATE A STALL ON SHORT FINAL WAS ALLOWED TO DEVELOP. CONTRIBUTING TO THE PILOT ERROR WAS THE PILOT’S LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND APPROACH AND LANDING AT AN UNFAMILIAR AIRPORT IN ADVERSE WINDS.

## 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 ERA24LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA177), Apr 8, 2024: Piper PA-24-250 (N6465P), Carrabassett, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point while landing in gusty wind conditions.

## Other reports on N6465P (1)

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

- [Accident 19780514012509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780514012509A), May 14, 1978: Piper PA24400 (N6465P), Barnstead, NH, Substantial damage. Winds gusting 26K.both wings bent down.

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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