# NTSB ATL87LA108: Piper PA-28R-180, N4974J, Lebanon, TN, April 4, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 4, 1987, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Lebanon, TN
- Coordinates: 36.199573, -86.320472 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1996&lon=-86.3205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7405
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7405/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA108

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE MADE A VFR PATTERN FOR LANDING ON RWY 18 AT HIS DESTINATION. THE WIND WAS 'HARD' AND 'STRAIGHT DOWN THE RWY.' HE REPORTED THAT, 'ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE WIND QUIT AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO FALL.' THE ACFT HIT HARD SHORT OF THE RWY, BOUNCED, STRUCK A VASI LIGHT, CROSSED A DITCH, A TAXIWAY AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE TAXIWAY. THIS ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED UNTIL 9 DAYS LATER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4974J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4974J-1994-02-11), registration cancelled 1994-02-11, S/N 28R30726 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-30726
- Airframe hours: 2839
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hester Aircraft Service
- Registered owner: Harry L Hester
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 20, 1987, 35 hours before
- Departed: SRB, SPARTA, TN
- Airport: M54, Lebanon Municipal, runway 36, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 604 total, 25 in this make and model, 538 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 30 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870404012179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870404012179A), Apr 4, 1987: Piper PA28R180, Lebanon, TN, Substantial damage. The aircraft stalled during flare and bounced off the runway. The pilot failed to anticipate wind shear.

## Other investigations on N4974J (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 DEN70DQA22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN70DQA22), May 21, 1970: Piper PA-28R (N4974J), Espanola, NM, substantial damage

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.

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