# NTSB CEN23LA213: Piper PA-28-235, N586SB, Ray, MI, May 20, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 20, 2023, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Ray, MI - Coordinates: 42.73, -82.88 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7300&lon=-82.8800&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 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): 192280 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192280/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192280 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA213 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during simulated engine-out procedures. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s decision to land with a tailwind. ## 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-28-235, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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-28-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor demonstrated a simulated engine failure to his student while the airplane was on the crosswind leg in the traffic pattern. He reported that he attempted to land on the opposite runway from which they departed. He reported that while maneuvering to final approach the airplane was pushed to the left of the runway over a grassy area by a “sudden downward draft.” The flight instructor stated that he thought the airplane encountered “windshear coming down between the trees.” He landed the airplane in the wet grass between the taxiway and the runway, which resulted in a propeller strike. Post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the engine mount. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that the wind at the time of the accident was 300° at 10 knots. The landing was made toward runway 10 which resulted in a 9-knot tailwind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N586SB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N586SB), registered now, S/N 28-10781, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10781 - Year built: 1966 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Kareon Consulting LLC - Registered owner: Kareon Consulting LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KDET, Detroit, MI - Destination: 57D, Ray, MI - Airport: 57D, Ray Community, runway 010, 2,495 × 60 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,812 total, 43 in this make and model, 1,567 as pilot in command - Student pilot; injuries: none; student; seat: left; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KMTC, 8 nm away - METAR: KMTC 201556Z 30010KT 10SM BKN026 BKN035 14/07 A2998 RMK AO2A SLP157 T01370070 ## 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 20230520014959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230520014959A), May 20, 2023: Piper PA-28-235, Ray Community, MI, Substantial damage. The instructor was demonsrating the impossibile turn., with a simulated engine failure. The instructor overshot the runway and was attemping to correct. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192280. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15908799&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Fillable_unlocked_57D-redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor additional statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15907163&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15906836&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.