- Date
- August 31, 2014, 20:30 local (Sep 1, 2014, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Plymouth, IN
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8307RPiper PA 28-140
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report November 13, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20140831015909A
- Case key
- 90018
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The sun glare and the pilot's subsequent loss of airplane control.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While preparing to land on runway 28, the pilot switched to runway 10, but then switched back to runway 28 to avoid hot air balloon and helicopter operations at the airport. While on final approach to runway 28, the pilot was blinded by the sun. The pilot stated that the airplane started to settle and he was "too low and too slow" over the cornfield. The airplane impacted the ground between the runway and the cornfield and slid across a road before coming to a stop. The fuselage and firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
While preparing to land on runway 28, the pilot switched to runway 10, but then switched back to runway 28 to avoid hot air balloon and helicopter operations at the airport. While on final approach to runway 28, the pilot was blinded by the sun. The pilot stated that the airplane started to settle and he was "too low and too slow" over the cornfield. The airplane impacted the ground between the runway and the cornfield and slid across a road before coming to a stop. The fuselage and firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8307R
- Reported as
- Piper PA 28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-22176
- Built
- 1966
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- C65 · Plymouth, IN
- Destination
- C65 · Plymouth, IN
- Airport
- C65 · Plymouth Municipal Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 76
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 1,100 total · 500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- KOXI, 17 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 10, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 761 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.