# NTSB CEN21LA060: Piper PA22, N3535A, Salem, IN, November 12, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 12, 2020, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Salem, IN - Coordinates: 38.602428, -86.145168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6024&lon=-86.1452&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102294/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102294 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to avoid an obstacle during his approach to land. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/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: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while flying a visual approach to land, the airplane’s landing gear struck a pile of dirt at the end of the runway, which pitched the airplane forward causing it to impact the runway in a nose down attitude. The airplane’s forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3535A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3535A), registered now, S/N 22-1807, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA22 (135) - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-1807 - Year built: 1953 - Airframe hours: 2860 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 135 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: None, Private, runway 010, 2,450 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 12, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,211 total, 70 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 60 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg ## 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 20201112014849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201112014849A), Nov 12, 2020: Piper PA-22-135, Salem, IN, Substantial damage. On November 12, 2020 at approximately 5:30PM (EST), a single engine Piper PA-22 airplane (N3535A) impacted the landing strip threshold during final approach to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 18, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102294. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11628072&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11628018&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.