# NTSB CHI00LA264: Piper PA-28-235, N9174W, Mackinac Island, MI, August 19, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 2000, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Mackinac Island, MI - Coordinates: 45.850936, -84.619346 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8509&lon=-84.6193&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50098 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA264 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50098/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA264 ## Probable cause the pilot not maintaining aircraft control in response to the uncommanded roll, and the excessive descent to the runway resulting in the hard landing. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot's attempted recovery from the uncommanded roll, the high crosswind, the pilot's recovery from the bounced landing, and his inadequate preflight planning in preparing for the wind conditions at the airport. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - descent - excessive (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - fractured ## Analysis The pilot said his flight was uneventful until the final approach to landing on runway 08 at the Mackinac Island, Michigan, Airport (MCD). The airport winds were reported as 3-4 knots from the north. "Over the threshold, the left wing [of the airplane] went up to approximately 35-40 degrees." The pilot said that he was able to "stabilize the aircraft just prior to touchdown. The initial landing was hard, and the plane porpoised prior to the second touchdown." The pilot said the airplane then veered to the left. "The plane continued on to the grassy area on the left side of the runway and the nose gear collapsed." Following the accident, the pilot observed a large American flag, south of the runway, "standing straight out (north to south)." An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. Nine minutes prior to the accident, the automated weather observation system at the airport reported clear skies, 10 miles visibility, winds 360 degrees at 6 knots, temperature 65 degrees F, dew point 35 degrees F, and altimeter 30.27 inches of Mercury. Six minutes prior to the accident, the Automated Surface Observation System at Alpina, Michigan, 66 miles from MCD at 140 degrees, reported clear skies, 10 miles visibility, winds 320 degrees at 11 knots, gusts to 18 knots, temperature 65 degrees F, dew point 37 degrees F, and altimeter 30.26 inches of Mercury. The Airport/Facilities Directory for the Mackinac Island Airport, states in the remarks section, "AWOS-3 winds unreliable due to trees north of the runway." ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2000, at 1600 eastern daylight time (edt), a Piper PA-28-235, N9174W, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on runway 8 (3,501 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) at the Mackinac Island Airport (MCD). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger, on board the airplane, reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Jackson, Michigan, and was en route to Mackinac Island, Michigan. In his written statement, the pilot said his flight was uneventful until the final approach to landing. He said that the airport winds were reported as 3-4 knots from the north. "Over the threshold, the left wing [of the airplane] went up to approximately 35-40 degrees." The pilot said that he was able to "stabilize the aircraft just prior to touchdown. The initial landing was hard, and the plane porpoised prior to the second touchdown." The pilot said the airplane then veered to the left. "The plane continued on to the grassy area on the left side of the runway and the nose gear collapsed." Following the accident, the pilot said he observed a large American flag, located near the tree line south of the runway, "standing straight out (north to south)." The pilot said the airport manager told him that the north winds come over the top of the trees, descend to the ground, start swirling, and continue south across the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the Mackinac Island Airport. The propeller showed torsional bending, chordwise scratches, tip curling, and several nicks in the leading and trailing edges of the blades. The nose gear was broken aft. The firewall was bent rearward. Several of the bottom fuselage rails were bent inward. One of the rails was punctured inward. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. At 1551 edt, the automated weather observation system (AWOS) at the Mackinac Island Airport, reported clear skies, 10 miles visibility, winds 360 degrees at 6 knots, temperature 65 degrees F, dew point 35 degrees F, and altimeter 30.27 inches of Mercury. At 1554 edt, the automated surface observation system (ASOS) at Alpina, Michigan, 66 miles from MCD at 140 degrees, reported clear skies, 10 miles visibility, winds 320 degrees at 11 knots, gusts to 18 knots, temperature 65 degrees F, dew point 37 degrees F, and altimeter 30.26 inches of Mercury. The Airport/Facilities Directory, East Central U.S. for the Mackinac Island Airport, states in the communications/navigation aids remarks section, AWOS-3 winds unreliable due to trees north of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9174W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9174W), registered now, S/N 28-10829, 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: 28-10829 - Airframe hours: 1632 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald J. Parker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 22, 2000, 4 hours before - Departed: JXN, JACKSON, MI - Destination: MCD - Airport: MCD, Mackinac Island Airport, runway 8, 3,501 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,033 total, 850 in this make and model, 822 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 149 °F, dew point 95 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MCD, 1 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 20000819037279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000819037279A), Aug 19, 2000: Piper PA28235, Mackinac Island, MI, No damage. (.19) On August 19, 2000, at 1600 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Piper PA-28-235, N9174W, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a… 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.