# NTSB ERA24LA035: Piper PA18, N4056Z, Tompkinsville, KY, November 4, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 4, 2023, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC)
- Place: Tompkinsville, KY
- Coordinates: 36.729028, -85.652389 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7290&lon=-85.6524&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: 2 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): 193382
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193382/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193382
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA035

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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-18-150, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,682 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,310 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-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was practicing an emergency descent and landing when he deployed full wing flaps and descended to the touchdown point. About 10 to 15 ft above ground level, the airplane encountered a rapid sink rate that he failed to arrest. The airplane touched down hard, and the fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot stated that, upon reflection, if he had added the power and extended the airplane’s glide path, he might have been in a better position for landing; however, he allowed the airplane to get “too slow.” The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4056Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4056Z), registered now, S/N 18-8064, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18 (150)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8064
- Year built: 1963
- Airframe hours: 9244
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: G & L Airborne Inc
- Registered owner: G & L Airborne Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2023, 0.3 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: TZV, Tompkinsville/Monroe County, runway 22, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 656; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,506 total, 65 in this make and model, 3,307 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: GLW, 23 nm away
- METAR: KGLW 041915Z AUTO 24009G17KT 10SM CLR 21/06 A3016 RMK AO2 T02110061

## 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 20231104019059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231104019059A), Nov 4, 2023: Piper PA-18-150, Tompkinsville, KY, Substantial damage. According to the pilot's statement: accident flight was a post maintenance flight following an annual inspection. There was one pilot and one passenger onboard…

## Other investigations on N4056Z (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 CHI97LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA139), May 7, 1997: Piper PA-18-150 (N4056Z), Rogers City, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the disconnection of the tailwheel spring which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193382. 39.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 38.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16398276&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA035%206120%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16398039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA035%20Pilot%20MOR_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 822 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16398813&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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