# NTSB ERA23LA016: Piper PA-28, N5654W, Morristown, TN, October 11, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 11, 2022, 10:37 local (14:37 UTC)
- Place: Morristown, TN
- Coordinates: 36.179243, -83.375477 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1792&lon=-83.3755&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 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): 106114
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106114/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106114
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA016

## Probable cause

The solo student pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard 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-28-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102806), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-160, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102806), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102806), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102806), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102806), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that he landed hard during which the nose landing gear (NLG) tire “blew out”, and the NLG strut collapsed. Subsequently, the airplane skidded to a stop on the runway. The engine mount was substantially damaged. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5654W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5654W), registered now, S/N 28-815, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 (160)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-160) (registry code 7102806) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-815
- Year built: 1962
- Airframe hours: 5071
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-O2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2022
- Departed: GKT, Sevierville, TN
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: MOR, Moore-Murrell, runway 23, 5,717 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 51.2 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observed at: DKX, 27 nm away
- METAR: KDKX 111455Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 15/08 A3035 RMK A01

## 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 20221011019999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221011019999A), Oct 11, 2022: Piper PA-28-160, Morristown, TN, Substantial damage. Student pilot of[privacy data omitted]departed kgkt for a solo flight to destination kmor and landed on runway 23. Pilot stated he setup to land the aircraft…

## Other investigations on N5654W (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW66D0433](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66D0433), Nov 22, 1965: Piper PA-28 (N5654W), Stigler, OK, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106114. 7.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14660818&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA016%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14660973&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� FAA wreckage examination (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14658606&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20FAA%20Exam%20Summary-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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