# NTSB ERA22LA195: Piper PA-32, N4468X, Carlisle, PA, March 18, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 18, 2022, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Carlisle, PA
- Coordinates: 40.187826, -77.170024 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1878&lon=-77.1700&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104962
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA195
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104962/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104962
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA195

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in the airplane’s empennage impacting the runway surface during 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-32-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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)

## 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-32-300, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while in the landing flare, about 5 to 7 ft above ground level, the airplane “suddenly dropped” to the ground and the airplane’s tail struck the runway. The pilot then taxied the airplane to parking uneventfully. During a subsequent inspection of the airplane, the pilot and a mechanic found that the airplane’s empennage had sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4468X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4468X), registered now, S/N 32-7640024, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32 (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: 32-7640024
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 4937
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 21, 2021
- Departed: HGR, Hagerstown, MD
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: N94, Carlisle Airport, runway 10, 4,008 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 8, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 75 total, 32 in this make and model, 44 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 140° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: CXY, 15 nm away
- METAR: METAR KCXY 182356Z 14013G20KT 10SM BKN070 21/10 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP127 T02060100 10256 20206 58003=

## 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 20220318003919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220318003919A), Mar 18, 2022: Piper PA-32-300, Carlisle, PA, Substantial damage. On March 18th 2022, a Piper PA-32-300, registration number N4468X, sn: 32-7640024 experienced a tail strike on landing at Carlisle Municipal Airport (N94) at…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104962. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13708797&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120-N4468X_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15303298&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20statement%20N4468X-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 800 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15302804&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA195%20Investigative%20Photographs-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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