# NTSB GAA17CA293: Piper PA 34, N34JM, Tunkhannock, PA, May 18, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 18, 2017, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Tunkhannock, PA - Coordinates: 41.5275, -75.945831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5275&lon=-75.9458&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95205 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA293 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95205/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95205 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA293 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during landing in crosswind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## 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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing and while in ground affect, "the airplane suddenly, and without an aural stall warning, lost lift and was forced onto the runway." Subsequently, the nose gear landing collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located about 15 miles from the accident site reported that, about 6 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 230° at 10 knots. The pilot landed on runway 19. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during landing and while in ground affect, "the airplane suddenly, and without an aural stall warning, lost lift and was 'forced' onto the runway". Subsequently the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located about 15 miles from the accident site reported, about 6 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 230° at 10. The pilot landed on runway 19. ## Aircraft - Registration: N34JM (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 34 (220T) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3449177 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 1422 - Engines: Continental LTSIO-360RB2B 220 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-360RB1B 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Auto Milestones LLC - Registered owner: Auto Milestones LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2016 - Departed: 5B6, FALMOUTH, MA - Destination: 76N, Tunkhannock, PA - Airport: 76N, Skyhaven, runway 19, 2,007 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 15, 2016; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,186 total, 1,342 in this make and model, 3,126 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KAVP, 15 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 20170518006779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170518006779A), May 18, 2017: Piper PA-34-220T, Tunkhannock, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot was making his approach to land at the Tunkhannock airport (76N) pa. Runway 19. Pilot was on final approach when he became slow and stalled the aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95205. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458555&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 493 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458556&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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. --- 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.