# NTSB CEN12CA207: Piper PA-22-150, N6143D, Crowley, LA, March 26, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 26, 2012, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Crowley, LA
- Coordinates: 30.213888, -92.339721
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2139&lon=-92.3397&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 18, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83229
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA207
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83229/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83229
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA207

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a nose-over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that the airplane nosed over while he was landing on a private airstrip. He stated that the landing was "flat" and that he didn't flare the airplane properly during the landing. The pilot also reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, left wing, and the vertical tail.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while landing on a private airstrip the airplane nosed over. He stated that the landing was "flat" and that he didn't flare the airplane properly during the landing. The pilot also reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, left wing, and the vertical tail.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6143D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6143D-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 22-4787, built 1957 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-4787
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2011
- Departed: 3R7, Jennings, LA
- Destination: 3R7, Jennings, LA
- Airport: PVT, Private airstrip, runway 36, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 58 total, 47 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: LFT

## 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 20120326005489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120326005489A), Mar 26, 2012: Piper PA-22-150, Crowley, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to land on a private grass airstrip. The aircraft ended up on its nose, slid down the grass runway then flipped over. Substantial damage to…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83229. 182 KB in all.

- Record of Conversation with pilot (item 1, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368796&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20pilot-Master.PDF
- Pilot statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368807&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20statement%20to%20FAA-Redacted.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.

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