# NTSB ERA24LA259: Piper PA-32R-300, N62LP, Selma, AL, June 12, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 12, 2024, 09:35 local (14:35 UTC) - Place: Selma, AL - Coordinates: 32.343947, -86.987806 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3439&lon=-86.9878&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): 194464 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194464/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194464 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA259 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent landing gear collapse. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-32R-300, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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-32R-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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-32R-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot receiving instruction was in training to obtain both a complex and high-performance endorsement. After successfully completing a touch-and-go landing and continuing in the airport traffic pattern, the flight instructor reduced engine power to idle to simulate an emergency forced landing. The airplane touched down on the left main landing gear first and then hard on the right main landing gear. Subsequently, the right main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in the right wing contacting the runway and sustaining substantial damage. Both pilots reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62LP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62LP), registered now, S/N 32R-7780375, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1g5d) (registry code 41598, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7780375 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 9408 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Magic City Aviators LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 2023, 206 hours before - Departed: EET, Calera, AL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SEM, Craig Field Airport, runway 33, 8,014 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 100 total, 10 in this make and model, 34 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 75; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 27,228 total, 162 in this make and model, 24,141 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: SEM - METAR: KSEM 121935Z AUTO 36008KT 340V040 10SM CLR 31/18 A2993 RMK AO2 ## 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 20240612007599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240612007599A), Jun 12, 2024: Piper PA-32R-300, Selma, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot was condicting a crosswind landing at Selma airport (sem) when the aircraft landed hard onto the runway with a drift componant. Moments later, as the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194464. 60.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17288987&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N62LP_Jason%20Brantley_NTSB%20Accident%20Incident%20Report%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (flight instructor) (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 55.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17289057&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Scardino%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 553 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17289150&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%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. --- 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.