# NTSB CEN14CA203: Piper PA-28, N38240, Kalamazoo, MI, April 19, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 19, 2014, 12:36 local (16:36 UTC)
- Place: Kalamazoo, MI
- Coordinates: 42.288887, -85.75 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2889&lon=-85.7500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89084
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA203
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89084/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89084
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA203

## Probable cause

An inadvertent stall during gusting crosswind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot said he was attempting to land on runway 18 "in variable crosswinds with gusty conditions. [There] may have been wind shear or tailwinds involved." He said the airplane stalled at low altitude (5 to 8 feet above the runway) and landed hard on the overrun for runway 36. The pilot reported no mechanical issues with the airplane. The fuselage was buckled, the empennage was bent down, and the left wing upper skin was deformed.

## Factual narrative

The pilot said he was attempting to land on runway 18 "in variable crosswinds with gusty conditions. [There] may have been wind shear or tailwinds involved." He told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that the airplane stalled at low altitude (5 to 8 feet above the runway) and landed hard on the overrun for runway 36. The pilot reported no mechanical issues with the airplane. The FAA inspector reported the fuselage was buckled, the empennage was bent down, and the left wing upper skin was deformed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38240](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38240-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 28-7725271, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 (140)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7725271
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 4154
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert I. Goodwin, doing business as Adventure Air Aviation
- Registered owner: RIG Enterprises, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 2014
- Departed: AZO, Kalamazoo, MI
- Destination: 4N0, Kalamazoo, MI
- Airport: 4N0, Newman's Airport, runway 18, 2,697 × 125 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 82; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 8, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,290 total, 120 in this make and model, 1,168 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observed at: KAZO, 9 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 20140419005109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140419005109A), Apr 19, 2014: Piper PA-28-140, Kalamazoo, MI, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed azo for short flight to 4N0. During the approach to a no flap landing at the private airstrip the aircraft stalled and crashed in the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 13, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89084. 4.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Email from FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-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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