- Date
- August 22, 1998, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lapaz, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3331RPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 15, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 43798
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in landing on unsuitable terrain (wet, grass). Factors associated with the accident were the wet grass and the fence.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported the airplane would not slow down during the landing roll with the use of brakes. He reported that he did not retract the flaps and the grass was wet from the previous night's rain. He reported he initiated a turn to the right into longer grass and was starting to make a 180 degree turn when the airplane contacted a fence at the end of the runway.
Factual narrative
On August 22, 1998, at 0930 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28- 180, N3331R, operated by a private pilot was substantially damaged while landing at the Sherk Field in Lapaz, Indiana. The landing was being made to the east on the 2,100 foot long grass airstrip when the airplane traveled off the end of the airstrip and collided with a fence. The pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Valparaiso, Indiana, at 0910 est.
The pilot reported that upon touching down the airplane "...did not slow down by braking." He reported that he did not retract the flaps and the grass was wet from the previous night's rain. He reported he initiated a turn to the right into longer grass and was starting to make a 180 degree turn when the airplane contacted the fence at the end of the runway.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3331R
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-5661
- Airframe hours
- 4,666
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Porter County Tri Pacer Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 22, 1997 · 138 hours before
- Departed
- VPZ · Valparaiso, IN
- Destination
- II38
- Airport
- II38 · Sherk Field, runway 9, 2,100 × 80 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 253 total · 177 in this make and model · 198 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 135° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
Other investigations on N3331R · 4
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.