# NTSB CEN12LA339: Piper PA-32-260, N4727S, Applegate, MI, May 12, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 12, 2012, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Applegate, MI - Coordinates: 43.351943, -82.558334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3519&lon=-82.5583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 5, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Detroit FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83864 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA339 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83864/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83864 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA339 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to attempt to take off from an unimproved field, which resulted in a collapsed nose landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis Earlier in the day, the pilot inadvertently landed on a plowed field; the airplane was not damaged during the landing. Later, the pilot returned and attempted to take off. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed when it got stuck in the mud during the takeoff. The pilot reported that his intent was to taxi the airplane on local roads to a nearby airfield; however, in a recording of a conversation between the pilot and a flight service station agent, the pilot stated that he “got stuck in the mud on departure.” When asked by the agent if there was any damage to the airplane, he responded that there was. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 12, 2012, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, N4727S, sustained substantial damage during an attempted takeoff from an unimproved farm field near Applegate, Michigan. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained damage to the nose landing gear and firewall. The aircraft was registered to Daedalian Flyers and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for the Flugplatz Airport (7MI), Lexington, MI when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that he had inadvertently landed on a plowed field near 7MI. He stated that there was no damage during the landing and that he returned to the airplane about 4 hours later. He stated that during taxi toward the east, the airplane veered to the left and when he corrected to the right, the nose landing gear collapsed and the propeller contacted the ground. He stated that his intent was to reposition the airplane to 7MI. During a telephone conversation, the pilot stated that his intent was to taxi the airplane on the local roads to 7MI. In a conversation with a Lockheed Martin Flight Service Station agent, the pilot reported that the airplane “got stuck in the mud on departure”. When asked by the agent if there was any damage to the airplane he responded that there was and that he was using ground transportation. Examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors revealed damage to the airplane's firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4727S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4727S), registered now, S/N 32-1166, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-1166 - Airframe hours: 4956 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2011 - Departed: Applegate, MI - Destination: 7MI, Lexington, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 11,000 total, 11,000 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: PHN, 26 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 20120512010949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120512010949A), May 12, 2012: Piper PA-32-260, Lexington, MI, Substantial damage. On 5/12/2012, N4727S departed kagc for 7MI. The pilot followed the GPS to the intended location, circled the field and lined up for a landing on 27. He made an… ## Other investigations on N4727S (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 CHI73DEM27](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73DEM27), Oct 7, 1972: Piper PA-32 (N4727S), Lake City, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83864. 815 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 662 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373257&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Summary of FSS recording (item 2, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20FSS%20recording-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with pilot (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394222&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20pilot-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.