# NTSB CEN17LA341: Piper PA-28, N5584U, Ray, MI, May 27, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2017, 11:35 local (15:35 UTC) - Place: Ray, MI - Coordinates: 42.736667, -82.888885 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7367&lon=-82.8889&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 19, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 95961 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA341 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95961/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95961 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA341 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach speed, which resulted in in a hard landing and a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly the airplane without an instructor onboard. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot (the owner of the airplane) was landing at the airport following a local flight. Witnesses reported that the airplane made several landing attempts, but, each time, the airplane was too fast or too high to land. On the last attempt, the airplane touched down hard and fast about halfway down the 2,495-ft-long runway. The airplane continued off the end of the runway, across a road, through a field, and struck several small trees and a tractor before coming to a stop. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no pre-impact anomalies that contributed to the accident. A flight instructor who had previously flown with the pilot told the pilot that he should fly only with an instructor on board, and that he was not ready to fly the airplane alone. Thus, it is likely that the pilot did not have the necessary experience to conduct a successful landing in the airplane. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2017, about 1135 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N5584U, impacted trees, terrain, and a tractor near Ray Township, Michigan. The private pilot on board sustained serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. No flight plan was filed and day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was landing at the Ray Community Airport following a 20 minute local flight. On his first attempt to land, he was high on the approach and elected to go around. On the second landing attempt, the pilot said he was long. He said he applied throttle and lost consciousness. Witnesses reported that the pilot made several landing attempts, but each time the airplane was too fast or too high to land. On the last attempt, the airplane touched down fast about halfway down the 2,495' runway. The airplane skipped, floated, and impacted the runway nose gear first about 1/4 the distance from the end, breaking the nose gear. The airplane bounced and departed the east end of the runway. The airplane continued across a gravel road, through a field, and then struck several small trees and a farm tractor before coming to a stop. The pilot's flight instructor said the pilot was not competent to operate the airplane. He had previously flown with the pilot and said that his traffic patterns, approaches and landings were very substandard for the certificate he held. The flight instructor discussed this with the pilot following their last flight together, and told the pilot he needed a lot of practice and should be flying with a competent pilot or instructor. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the engine and propeller, the engine cowling, and forward fuselage. The nose landing gear was broken aft and the left main landing gear was bent inboard. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's engine, and other systems revealed no pre-impact anomalies that contributed to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5584U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5584U-2018-05-02), registration cancelled 2018-05-02, S/N 28-26314, built 1969 (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: 28-26314 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 3715 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2016 - Departed: 57D, Ray, MI - Destination: 57D, Ray, MI - Airport: 57D, Ray Community Airport, runway 9, 2,495 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 10, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 210 total, 50 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KMTC, 8 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 20170527009199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170527009199A), May 27, 2017: Piper PA-28-140, Ray Township, MI, Substantial damage. Witnesses reported that pilot made several landing attempts, but was too fast and/or too high to land each time. On last attempt, pilot was also too fast , and… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 27, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95961. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 826 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457381&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement, Curtis Lynn (item 2, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement,%20Curtis%20Lynn-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 287 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Airport Information (item 4, .PDF, 829 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Information-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 5, .PDF, 393 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457385&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - Macomb County, Michigan, Sheriff's Report (item 6, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457386&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Macomb%20County,%20Michigan,%20Sheriff%27s%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1, Accident Airplane (item 7, .PDF, 793 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457387&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201,%20Accident%20Airplane-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.