# NTSB CEN09CA616: Piper PA-36-285, N57625, Clark, SD, June 12, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 12, 2009, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Clark, SD - Coordinates: 44.894721, -97.711112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8947&lon=-97.7111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 1, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75560 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA616 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75560/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75560 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA616 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from a levy. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The aerial application pilot reported that he was setting navigational equipment while en route to a field to spray. He stated that he became fixated on the unit. He said, “at the end of the field was a levy with a road on top of it. I noticed this too late and impacted the landing gear of the aircraft at the top of the levy. The airplane continued to fly and I knew I had hit something.” Review of photographs of the airplane showed that structural tubing was torn away from the fuselage tubing and the torn structure remained attached to the separated landing gear. ## Factual narrative The aerial application pilot reported that he was setting navigational equipment while en-route to a field to spray. He stated that he became fixated on the unit. He said, “At the end of the field was a levy with a road on top of it. I noticed this too late and impacted the landing gear of the aircraft at the top of the levy. The airplane continued to fly and I knew I had hit something.” Review of photographs of the airplane showed that structural tubing was torn away from the fuselage tubing and the torn structure remained attached to the separated landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57625](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57625), registered now, S/N 36-7660022, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36-285 - Registry model: [Piper PA-36-285](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-285) (registry code 7103610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 6-285-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-6-285-a) (registry code 17038, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36-7660022 - Engines: Lycoming IO-720 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Douglas M. Hansen - Registered owner: Douglas M. Hansen - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: 8D7, Clark, SD - Destination: Clark, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 28, 2010; seat: center; flight hours: 1,040 total, 7 in this make and model, 941 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F ## 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 20090612053889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090612053889A), Jun 12, 2009: Piper PA-36-285, Clark, SD, Substantial damage. 6/12/2009 Pilot [privacy data omitted] flew N57625 under [privacy data omitted] part 137 certificate O2HG performing agriculture spray operations. He departed… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75560. 635 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 635 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327659&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.