# NTSB CEN10CA106: Piper PA-24-260, N8916P, Cherokee, IA, January 21, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 21, 2010, 14:35 local (20:35 UTC) - Place: Cherokee, IA - Coordinates: 42.731109, -95.555831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7311&lon=-95.5558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-DSM-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75296 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75296/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75296 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA106 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudged his altitude while on short final approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: snow/ice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot flew an instrument approach to runway 36 and decided to circle to land on runway 18 as the winds slightly favored runway 18, and because runway 36 contained a slight downhill slope. While on final approach the pilot lowered full flaps and slowed the airplane to 80 miles per hour. The pilot intended to land as close to the end of the runway as possible because he was concerned about the lack of braking action on the snow- and ice-covered runway. The landing gear subsequently contacted a hard snowbank about 30 feet before the approach end of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane's firewall. The airplane then slid about 450 feet down the center of the runway prior to coming to rest. The pilot reported that it was difficult to judge the terrain as everything was snow covered and white. The pilot did not report having any problems with the operation of the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot flew an instrument approach to runway 36 and decided to circle to land on runway 18 as the winds slightly favored runway 18, and because runway 36 contained a slight downhill slope. While on final approach the pilot lowered full flaps and slowed the airplane to 80 miles per hour. The pilot intended to land as close to the end of the runway as possible because he was concerned about the lack of braking action on the snow- and ice-covered runway. The landing gear subsequently contacted a hard snowbank about 30 feet before the approach end of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane's firewall. The airplane then slid about 450 feet down the center of the runway prior to coming to rest. The pilot reported that it was difficult to judge the terrain as everything was snow covered and white. The pilot did not report having any problems with the operation of the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8916P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8916P-2013-05-17), registration cancelled 2013-05-17, S/N 24-4348, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4348 - Airframe hours: 3522 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wenck Kent W - Registered owner: Wenck Kent W - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2010, 17 hours before - Departed: LAA, Lamar, CO - Destination: CKP, Cherokee, IA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CKP, Cherokee County Regional, runway 18, 3,801 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 29, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,433 total, 856 in this make and model, 1,398 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: CKP ## 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 20100121026359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100121026359A), Jan 21, 2010: Piper PA-24-260, Cherokee, IA, Substantial damage. Pilot was landing on runway 18 at ckp. Landed short of the runway breaking the left main landing gear off and folding the nose landing gear under the aircraft.… ## Other investigations on N8916P (2) 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 MKC79FTK09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC79FTK09), Mar 18, 1979: Piper PA-24 (N8916P), Pierre, SD, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC77DTK26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC77DTK26), Jun 15, 1977: Piper PA-24 (N8916P), Philip, SD, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75296. 654 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 654 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325038&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.