# NTSB CEN16LA252: Piper PA-22-150, N5788D, Houghton Lake Heights, MI, July 2, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 2016, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Houghton Lake Heights, MI - Coordinates: 44.329166, -84.791664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3292&lon=-84.7917&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report December 12, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93556 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93556/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93556 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA252 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed reaction to the variable wind condition, which resulted in an excessive descent rate and the airplane's subsequent collision with a wire fence short of the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); 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 private pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to provide the passengers with an introductory flight in conjunction with an event hosted by a local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association. He stated that there were no mechanical issues or anomalies with the airplane during an earlier flight. After departure, the airplane climbed to 2,500 ft mean sea level, and the pilot completed a local flight before entering the traffic pattern for a full-stop landing on runway 34. The pilot reported that, while on final approach, as the airplane passed over a tree line, it encountered a downdraft and descended below the normal glidepath. As he increased engine power to arrest the airplane's descent, the main landing gear struck a wire fence near the approach end of the runway. The airplane subsequently landed hard on its nose landing gear, which collapsed the nose gear, and skidded to a stop in a nose-down attitude on the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident review of available meteorological data established that the surface wind was likely variable from the southwest to northwest at 5 to 8 knots. Although the variable wind condition had the potential to develop minor turbulence and an associated downdraft during the final approach, the pilot should have been able to anticipate and adequately handle the variable wind condition. It is likely that the pilot's delayed reaction to the variable wind condition resulted in an excessive descent rate and the airplane's subsequent collision with the wire fence short of the runway. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 2016, about 1020 eastern daylight time, a Piper model PA-22-150 single-engine airplane, N5788D, was substantially damaged when it collided with a wire fence and terrain while landing at Houghton Lake State Airport, 5Y2, near Houghton Lake Heights, Michigan. The private pilot and 3 passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed about 1000.The pilot reported that the purpose of the accident flight was to provide the passengers with an introductory flight in conjunction with an event hosted by a local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical issues or anomalies with the airplane during his earlier flight from his base airport to 5Y2. The flight departed runway 34 (2,750 feet by 104 feet, turf), climbed to 2,500 feet mean sea level, and completed a local flight of the Houghton Lake area before entering the traffic pattern for a full-stop landing on runway 34. The pilot reported that while on final approach, as they passed over a tree line, the airplane encountered a downdraft and descended below a normal glide path. As he increased engine power to arrest the airplane's descent the main landing gear collided with a wire fence located near the approach end of the runway. The airplane subsequently landed hard on its nose landing gear, collapsing the nose gear, and skidded to a stop in a nose-down attitude on the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The fuselage, engine firewall, and left wing were substantially damaged during the accident. The closest aviation weather station was located at Roscommon County Airport (HTL), Houghton Lake, Michigan, about 5.6 miles east of the accident site. At 0953, the HTL automated surface observing system reported: a surface wind from 270 degrees at 5 knots, surface visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 19 degrees Celsius, dew point 11 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.15 inches of mercury. The weather station's next hourly report, issued at 1053, indicated that the surface wind direction was variable between 230 and 300 degrees at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5788D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5788D-2016-09-28), registration cancelled 2016-09-28, S/N 22-4464, built 1956 (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: 22-4464 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 3982.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 2015, 5 hours before - Departed: 5Y2, Houghton Lake Heights, MI - Destination: 5Y2, Houghton Lake Heights, MI - Airport: 5Y2, Houghton Lake State Airport, runway 34, 2,750 × 104 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 9, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 479 total, 50 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: HTL, 5 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 20160702010349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160702010349A), Jul 2, 2016: Piper PA-22-150, Houghton Lake, MI, Substantial damage. On 07/02/2016 a charity flight sponsored by the local chapter of the experimental aircraft association (eaa) was performed by [privacy data omitted] at… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 25, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93556. 582 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 352 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443719&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation (Jimmy Parker) (item 3, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Jimmy%20Parker)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 4, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-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.