# NTSB FTW02LA075: Piper PA-28, N32194, Berryville, AR, January 28, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 28, 2002, 17:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Berryville, AR - Coordinates: 36.382572, -93.620458 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3826&lon=-93.6205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54101 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54101/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54101 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA075 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the sunglare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command - flare - inadequate, pilot in command - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - vasi light/system - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that the first two approaches to the runway at an unfamiliar airport were too short. On his third approach, seeing that he was still too high, the pilot decided to steepen his glide path toward the numbers, which resulted in gaining too much speed. With the glaring sun in his eyes, the airplane touched down hard, bounced, touched down hard a second time, and bounded again. After touching down hard a third time, the nose gear collapsed, and the propeller blade tips struck the runway. The airplane then veered off the runway, impacted an approach light, and slid down an embankment coming to rest against two trees. ## Factual narrative On January 28, 2002, at 1720 central standard time, a Piper PA-28 single-engine airplane, N32194, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Carroll County Airport, Berryville, Arkansas. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo instructional flight. The flight originated from the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport, Springfield, Missouri, at 1650. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), and in a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the student pilot reported that "he was not familiar with the landmarks to make a proper approach." The first two approaches to runway 25 were "too short." On his third approach, the pilot reported that he "was still a little high," but thinking he could make it, steepened his glide path toward the numbers, "which caused me to gain too much speed." With the "glaring sun in [the pilot's] eyes," the airplane touched down "hard," bounced, touched down "hard" a second time, and bounced again. Touching down "hard" a third time, the nose gear collapsed, and both propeller blade tips struck the runway. The pilot added that after "losing directional control," the airplane veered off the runway, impacted an approach light, slid down an embankment, and came to a stop against two cedar trees. The FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, reported that he found the left wing bent aft and the left flap crushed against the fuselage. An indentation on the leading edge of the left wing corresponded dimensionally to the diameter of one of the cedar trees. Additionally, both propeller blade tips were damaged. At 1653, the Automated Surface Observing System, located at Harrison, Arkansas, 27 miles southeast of Berryville, reported wind 210 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 statutes miles, sky clear, temperature 22 degrees centigrade, dewpoint 06 degrees centigrade, and altimeter 29.90 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32194](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32194), registered now, S/N 28-7505036, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7505036 - Airframe hours: 2233.25 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: David R. Yarbrough - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 2001, 66.75 hours before - Departed: KSGF, Springfield, MO - Destination: 4M1, Berryville, AR - Airport: 4M1, Carroll County Airport, runway 25, 3,550 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 71 total, 71 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: HRO, 27 nm away ## 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 20020128004389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020128004389A), Jan 28, 2002: Piper PA28180, Berryville, AR, No damage. (-23) On January 28, 2002, at or about 17:40 CST, a Piper PA-28-180, N32194, was substantially damaged while landing at the carrol county airport, Berryville,… ## Other investigations on N32194 (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 CHI99LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA124), Apr 8, 1999: Piper PA-28-180 (N32194), North Platte, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty, high, wind conditions, and the pilot's continued flight into adverse weather. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54101. 396 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.