# NTSB GAA15CA287: Piper PA 24, N8583P, West Bend, WI, September 26, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 26, 2015, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: West Bend, WI
- Coordinates: 43.422222, -88.128051 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4222&lon=-88.1281&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 17, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92092
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA287
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92092/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92092
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA287

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain his descent rate during the landing, which resulted in a hard landing and runway excursion.

## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/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-24-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [After landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [After landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [After landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that when he initiated the landing flare, his sight picture "looked correct"; however the airplane impacted the runway before he transitioned to a "horizontal" attitude. The pilot reported that the airplane landed hard, bounced, exited the runway to the left, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies existed with the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that when he initiated the landing flare, his sight picture "looked correct"; however the airplane impacted the runway before he transitioned to a "horizontal" attitude. The pilot reported that the airplane landed hard, bounced, exited the runway to the left, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies existed with the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8583P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8583P), registered now, S/N 24-4040, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 24 (260)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-4040
- Year built: 1965
- Airframe hours: 4239
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gordon E. Hering
- Registered owner: Gordon E. Hering
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 6, 2014
- Departed: UES, WAUKESHA, WI
- Destination: ETB, West Bend, MI
- Airport: ETB, West Bend Muni, runway 13, 4,994 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 24, 2012; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 738 total, 15 in this make and model, 738 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: ETB

## 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 20150926017159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150926017159A), Sep 26, 2015: Piper PA-24-260, West Bend, WI, Substantial damage. On September 26, 2015, at 1530 CDT, a Piper PA-24-260, N8583P, [privacy data omitted]piloted by gordon e. hering^, a paraplegic, mishandled the landed on…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92092. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434960&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434961&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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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