# NTSB ERA18LA102: Piper PA 32-300, N54476, Pompano Beach, FL, March 1, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 1, 2018, 10:51 local (15:51 UTC) - Place: Pompano Beach, FL · Goodyear Blimp Tarmac - Coordinates: 26.248611, -80.118057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2486&lon=-80.1181&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96866 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96866/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96866 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA102 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during an aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to maintain a proper approach and landing speed during a precautionary landing following a loss of manifold pressure for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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-32-300, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff while climbing through 800 ft mean sea level (msl), the engine manifold pressure began to drop, and the engine “sounded irregular.” The pilot initiated a return to the airport and requested to land. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger reported that the engine did not respond when the throttle was reduced during the landing approach. The airplane continued toward the runway at high speed and touched down within the last third of the runway surface, where it bounced several times. The pilot first pulled the mixture control to idle/cut off, but when the engine did not respond, richened the mixture, applied full throttle, and initiated an aborted landing. The airplane became airborne, entered a right bank, and began to descend before impacting the ramp near a hangar, resulting in substantial damage. The wind conditions at the time of the accident were consistent with a quartering tailwind of about 8 knots for the landing runway. Examination of the engine revealed no anomalies, and the reasons for the initial loss of manifold pressure could not be determined based on the available information. However, the circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack after the airplane became airborne, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and impact with the ramp. ## Factual narrative On March 1, 2018, about 1051 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N54476, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pompano Beach, Florida. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. During departure, while climbing through 800 ft mean sea level (msl), the pilot observed the engine manifold pressure falling and stated that it “sounded irregular.” The pilot-rated passenger told the pilot to “turn back,” after which the pilot informed air traffic control that they needed to return and land. The controller issued a clearance to land on runway 28. The pilot estimated that when the airplane touched down, the groundspeed was high and there was a “substantial” quartering tailwind. Both the pilot and passenger reported that, during landing, the engine appeared to be developing full power, the throttle was unresponsive, and they were unable to reduce power. After touching down and bouncing several times, the pilot pulled the mixture to the idle/cut off position, but when there was not an immediate response, he attempted to take off again because the airplane was nearing the end of the runway. After applying full power and full-rich mixture, the airplane lifted off. The pilot entered an immediate turn to the right to stay over the airport and away from a hangar. The airplane climbed briefly, then started to descend as it continued banking to the right, then impacted the ground in front of a hangar about 1,000 ft northwest of the departure end of runway 28. The airplane skidded across the pavement and impacted two fences before coming to rest upright. Both the tower controller who witnessed the landing and the pilot-rated passenger reported that the approach speed was high, and they may have touched down late. The controller further stated the touchdown was in the last third of the runway. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the outboard sections of both wings sheared off, the landing gear separated, and the engine partially separated from the firewall. Examination of the engine revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54476](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54476-2023-09-16), registration cancelled 2023-09-16, S/N 32-7440055, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 32-300 (300) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7440055 - Year built: 1973 - Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 KI85 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Garrison Ronald L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2018, 47 hours before - Departed: PMP, Pampano Beach, FL - Destination: MYAM, Marsh Harbour, OF - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PMP, Pompano Beach Airpark, runway 28, 3,502 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 375 total, 11.9 in this make and model, 18.2 in the last 90 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: PMP ## 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 20180301014519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180301014519A), Mar 1, 2018: Piper PA-32-300, Pompano Beach, FL, Destroyed. Pompano Beach, FL (pmp): N54476, PA32, touched down at the end of runway 28. Pilot attempted a go around and stalled the aircraft. Aircraft veered off the… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96866. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12368705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspectors report including compiled statements (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12365649&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspectors%20Report%20that%20Includes%20Pilot%20and%20Maintenance%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Police statement with witness and ATC accounts_excerpt (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 876 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12369719&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Police%20Statement%20Excerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot flight hours email to FAA (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12366036&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Flight%20Hours_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Security camera footage of accident prior to ground impact (item 5, AVI, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12365008&FileExtension=avi&FileName=8-LANDING%20PAD%20ADMIN%20PTZ%20-%201920%20x%201080%20-%205fps_20180301_094921-Rel.avi - Security camera footage of accident_impact (item 6, AVI, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12368747&FileExtension=avi&FileName=6-HANGER%20ENT%20AREA%20-%201920%20x%201080%20-%205fps_20180301_094921%20(1)-Rel.avi - Memo for record - lost data card (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12876365&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record_Data%20Card-Rel%20(1)-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. --- 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.