# NTSB BFO92LA138: Piper PA 22-150, N4319A, Greenville, ME, September 13, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 13, 1992, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Greenville, ME
- Location: 45.4662° N, 69.5780° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Greenville, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4662&lon=-69.5780&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11848
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11848/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA138

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE FLARE RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - water (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A SPOT LANDING CONTEST, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, HE FELT THE FRONT OF THE FLOAT ' DIG IN,' SO HE APPLIED BACK PRESSURE.  A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD ON THE WATER AND CARTWHEELED. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN TOO FAST AS HE WAS TRYING TO FORCE THE TOUCHDOWN POINT TO BE BETWEEN THE MARKER PYLONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4319A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4319A-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 22-3671 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 22-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-3671
- Airframe hours: 2646
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A1A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dale Earle
- Registered owner: Dale E Earle
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1992, 20 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: invalid medical for flight; seat: left; flight hours: 509 total, 468 in this make and model, 420 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BGR, 1 nm away

## 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 19920913055889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920913055889A), Sep 13, 1992: Piper PA22150, Greenville, ME, Substantial damage. Landed hard and fast trying to make marker in water spot landing contest. Flipped over. Floatplane sank in lake.

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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