# NTSB DEN02LA042: Piper PA-28-140B, N345M, Monument Valley, UT, May 11, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 11, 2002, 12:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Monument Valley, UT - Coordinates: 37.015277, -110.201385 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0153&lon=-110.2014&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54685 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54685/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54685 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA042 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent stall/mush to the ground during landing flare. Contributing factors were the earth berm along the side of the runway, and the wind shear weather condition on short final. ## 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 - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he arrived at his destination 2-3 hours after the planned arrival time. At approximately 50 feet above ground level the airplane experienced a significant loss in air speed due to a "sudden wind shift/shear." The aircraft was moved approximately 50 feet to the right and impacted an earth berm. The nose wheel landing gear collapsed aft, and the engine mount, engine firewall, cowling and fuselage were bent. ## Factual narrative On May 11, 2002, at approximately 1220 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140B, N345M, was substantially damaged following impact with terrain subsequent to an inadvertent stall/mush at Monument Valley Airport, Monument Valley, Utah. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that originated from Chandler Municipal Airport, Chandler, Arizona, at 1013. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. The pilot said that he researched the airport before his flight. He was aware of the normal procedures regarding carrying more airspeed and placing the aircraft "firmly" on the runway. He arrived at the destination 2-3 hours after the planned arrival time. At approximately 50 feet above ground level, the airplane experienced a significant loss in air speed due to a "sudden wind shift/shear." The aircraft was moved approximately 50 feet to the right and impacted an earth berm. The nose wheel landing gear collapsed aft, and the engine mount, engine firewall, cowling and fuselage were bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N345M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N345M-2007-12-18), registration cancelled 2007-12-18, S/N 28-25705, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140B - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-25705 - Airframe hours: 1560 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald V. Delong - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2001, 25 hours before - Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Destination: UT25, Monument Valley, UT - Airport: UT25, Monument Valley, runway 16, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 12, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 418 total, 410 in this make and model, 388 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: CEZ, 75 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 20020511009759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020511009759A), May 11, 2002: Piper PA28140, Monument Valley, UT, Substantial damage. (.19) On may 11, 2002, at approximately 1220 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N345M, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Monument… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54685. 360 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 323 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436534&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40170719&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.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.