# NTSB CEN24LA322: Piper PA-32-260, N3613W, Chetek, WI, August 14, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 14, 2024, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Chetek, WI
- Coordinates: 45.305537, -91.635385 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3055&lon=-91.6354&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- 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): 194974
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA322
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194974/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194974
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA322

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare and hard landing.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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)

## 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-flare/touchdown: 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-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane landed hard and bounced. He attempted to recover by flaring the nose up to bleed off energy as a gust of wind blew the airplane to the left of runway centerline. The pilot stated that during the hard landing he hit his head on the glareshield and momentarily lost consciousness. When he regained consciousness, the airplane was flying towards the trees located to the east of runway 17. The airplane collided with the trees and both wings separated from the fuselage; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3613W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3613W), registered now, S/N 32-514 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- 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: 32-514
- Year built: 1966
- Engines: Lycoming O-540 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 2023
- Departed: Y23, Chetek, WI
- Destination: Y23, Chetek, WI
- Airport: Y23, Chetek Municipal/Southworth Airport, runway 17, 3,401 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2024; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 90 total, 21.7 as pilot in command, 35.2 in the last 90 days, 1.6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,100 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: KRPD, 9 nm away
- METAR: KRPD 141735Z AUTO 14012G16KT 7SM BKN041 27/15 A3011

## 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 20240814011939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240814011939A), Aug 14, 2024: Piper PA-32-260, Chetek, WI, Substantial damage. During a landing the PIC reported flaring too much causing a bounce. After the bounce the PIC applied power to initiate a go around. After applying power the…

## Other investigations on N3613W (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 DIA67D0113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA67D0113), May 24, 1967: Piper PA-32 (N3613W), Lynchburg, VA, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194974. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17739446&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form%20CEN24LA322.Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 770 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17738998&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20CEN24LA322-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17739074&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20Interview%20CEN24LA322-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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