# NTSB GAA17CA416: Piper PA 22, N9807D, Breckenridge, MI, July 18, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 18, 2017, 18:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Breckenridge, MI - Coordinates: 43.2625, -84.892501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2625&lon=-84.8925&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95605 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA416 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95605/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95605 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA416 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of situational awareness during the approach over a corn field, which resulted in collision with corn stalks. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was practicing short-field, touch-and-go landings on the private grass airstrip. The final leg of the approach was over a cornfield and a road perpendicular to the approach end of the airstrip. During final, the main landing gear (MLG) struck corn stalks that were about 6-ft tall. The airplane then landed short and struck the road. The right MLG collapsed, and the airplane slid across the road and onto the grass airstrip. The airplane's nose dug into the grass and dirt, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing strut and the rudder. The pilot reported that "this accident was pilot error" and that he believed that he became "fixated on the beginning of the grass and was oblivious to the height of the corn." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was practicing short-field, touch and go landings on the private grass airstrip. The final leg of the approach was over a cornfield and a road perpendicular to the approach end of the airstrip. During final, the main landing gear struck corn stalks that were about 6-feet tall, the airplane landed short and struck the road. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid across the road and onto the grass airstrip. The nose of the airplane dug into the grass and dirt, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing strut and the rudder. The pilot reported that, "This accident was pilot error" and that, "I believe that I fixated on the beginning of the grass and was oblivious to the height of the corn." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9807D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9807D-2019-01-28), registration cancelled 2019-01-28, S/N 22-6694, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-6694 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 2526 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2016 - Departed: PVT, Breckenridge, MI - Destination: PVT, Breckenridge, MI - Airport: PVT, Ron's Private strip, runway 27, 2,600 × 65 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2017; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,100 total, 450 in this make and model, 1,985 as pilot in command, 3.5 in the last 90 days, 0.6 in the last 30 days, 0.1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KSRC, 32 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 20170718012499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170718012499A), Jul 18, 2017: Piper PA-22-160, Breckenridge, MI, Substantial damage. On July 18, 2017 at approximately 18:20 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-160 aircraft, N9807D, registered to and operated by a commercial pilot, received… ## Other investigations on N9807D (2) 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 CHI93LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA002), Oct 4, 1992: Piper PA-22-160 (N9807D), West Branch, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. - [NTSB CHI78FEM31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEM31), Jul 25, 1978: Piper PA-22 (N9807D), Evart, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 27, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95605. 2.1 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=40458375&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458376&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. --- 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.