# NTSB CEN21LA014: Piper PA32R, N3445Q, Kimberling City, MO, October 10, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 10, 2020, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Kimberling City, MO - Coordinates: 36.62629, -93.423947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6263&lon=-93.4239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102133 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102133/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102133 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA014 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in his inadvertent departure with the tow bar connected to the nose wheel, and the low approach while returning to the airport, which allowed the tow bar to contact trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [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-32R-300, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he moved the airplane out of the hangar using a tow bar and his personal vehicle. The pilot added that he did not remove the tow bar from the airplane. The pilot and passenger then departed on a cross-country flight. Witnesses at the airport notified the pilot by radio that the tow bar was still attached. The plot then entered the traffic pattern to land at the airport. During the approach the tow bar, which was hanging from the airplane’s nose wheel, impacted and got entangled in trees. The airplane then impacted ground objects and terrain. A post-crash fire ensued and destroyed the airplane. The pilot added that he did not know why he got so low on the approach to the airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3445Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3445Q-2021-12-04), registration cancelled 2021-12-04, S/N 32R-7780312, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7780312 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kenneth Best - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: MO64, Kimberling Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KFWB, 6 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 20201010015059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201010015059A), Oct 10, 2020: Piper PA-32R-300, Kimberling City, MO, Destroyed. Pilot departed runway 13 at MO64 with tow bar still attached to the nose gear. Pilot received radio communication about tow bar and entered left downwind for… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102133. 5.1 MB in all. - FAA report (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11702661&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11702559&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - statement (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12967385&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20statement_Redacted-Rel.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.