# NTSB ERA25LA224: Shoemaker Ronald R Pazmany PL-2, N289RS, Reading, PA, May 6, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 6, 2025, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Reading, PA - Coordinates: 40.379469, -75.961621 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3795&lon=-75.9616&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2025 - 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): 200297 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200297/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200297 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA224 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate, resulting in a hard landing short of the runway and collapse of the right main landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Shoemaker Ronald R PAZMANY PL-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05620ZV), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: [Shoemaker Ronald R PAZMANY PL-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05620ZV), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Shoemaker Ronald R PAZMANY PL-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=05620ZV), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Shoemaker Ronald R PAZMANY PL-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05620ZV), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he purchased the airplane earlier that day and completed a condition inspection that afternoon. The previous owner suggested performing a couple of touch-and-go landings and some air work in preparation for the planned flight to the airplane’s home base. The pilot stated that the takeoff, climb, crosswind, and downwind legs of the traffic pattern were normal. While on the base-to-final turn, the airplane was high, and when the pilot reduced engine power, it developed a high sink rate. He did not correct the sink rate with additional power, and the airplane landed short of the runway. It then bounced to the runway threshold, and the right main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane’s right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further stated that since he had no prior flight experience with the airplane, additional flight planning and familiarization of the airplane’s flight characteristics prior to departure could have prevented the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N289RS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N289RS), registered now, S/N 089 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SHOEMAKER RONALD R PAZMANY PL-2 - Registry model: [Shoemaker Ronald R PAZMANY PL-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/shoemaker-ronald-r-pazmany-pl-2) (registry code 05620ZV) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 089 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 524 - Engines: Lycoming O320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 6, 2025, 0 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: RDG, Reading Rgnl/Carl A Spaatz Fld, runway 13, 6,350 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 9, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,123 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,917 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: RDG - METAR: KRDG 062154Z 23004KT 10SM FEW041 BKN070 OVC120 16/12 A2991 RMK AO2 RAE2055B14E48 SLP132 P0000 T01610117 ## 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 20250506007379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250506007379A), May 6, 2025: Shoemaker Ronald R PAZMANY PL-2, Reading, PA, Substantial damage. Airman was performing a touch and go landing on runway 13. The most current METAR showed that the winds were 12009G16KT. He stated that he was approaching the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200297. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19151463&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20N289RS%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19144372&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR%20LA224-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19141935&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA224-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.