# NTSB CEN24LA122: Piper PA32, N3645W, Tulsa, OK, February 23, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 23, 2024, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Tulsa, OK
- Coordinates: 36.038877, -95.984215
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0389&lon=-95.9842&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 FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193837
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA122
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193837/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193837
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA122

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent retraction of the flaps while landing which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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-32-260, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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-32-260, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103206), [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-32-260, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while landing, the flaps were inadvertently retracted from the full position. The airplane touched down abruptly on the right side of the runway and headed off the runway toward the runway safety area. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder but overcorrected and the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The pilot reported he then attempted a go-around but was not able to establish enough airspeed to become airborne, so he aborted the maneuver. During the runway excursion, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 1R in a variable wind of 5 knots, gusting to 20 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3645W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3645W), registered now, S/N 32-549, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32 (260)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-549
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 3498
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-E985 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 23, 2023, 43 hours before
- Departed: 39OK, Goldsby, OK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: RVS, Tulsa Riverside, runway 01R/19L, 4,208 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 30, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 243 total, 43 in this make and model, 119 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KRVS
- METAR: KRVS 232153Z VRB05G20KT 10SM CLR 21/M05 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP159 T02061050

## 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 20240223000929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240223000929A), Feb 23, 2024: Piper PA-32-260, Tulsa, OK, Substantial damage. This office was called by the regional operations command on 02/23/2024 around 4:05 pm confirming that a runway incursion happed at Tulsa riverside airport…

## Other investigations on N3645W (1)

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.

- [NTSB MKC69F0344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC69F0344), Feb 9, 1969: Piper PA-32 (N3645W), Chariton, IA, substantial damage

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 11, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193837. 2.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17054334&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 193 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17125162&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17054444&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20to%20FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� FAA inspector (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17054070&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR-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.

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