# NTSB GAA17CA503: Piper PA 28, N536CA, Mohave, AZ, August 19, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 19, 2017, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Mohave, AZ - Coordinates: 35.005554, -114.565002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0056&lon=-114.5650&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95868 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA503 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95868/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95868 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA503 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper airspeed and pitch control during landing in variable, gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and hard landing. ## 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-28-161, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Piper PA-28-161, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the approach to the desert airport, the wind had increased to about 15 knots, and it was gusting. He reported that, during landing, "a gust of wind hit me from the opposite direction of flight causing a stall." The airplane stalled about 8 ft above the runway and landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. The METAR at the nearest airport (7 miles from accident airport) reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 210° at 4 knots. An hour later, the METAR reported that the wind was 10 knots, gusting to 17 knots. 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 during the approach to the desert airport, the wind had increased to about 15kts and gusting. During landing, he reported that, "a gust of wind hit me from the opposite direction of flight causing a stall." The airplane stalled about 8ft above runway 18 and landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. The METAR at the nearest airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 210° at 4kts and the temperature was 95°F. The field elevation was 725ft and the density altitude was 3,315ft. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N536CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N536CA-2019-02-07), registration cancelled 2019-02-07, S/N 2841024, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28 (161) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-D3G](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-d3g) (registry code 42156, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2841024 - Year built: 1988 - Airframe hours: 12700 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2017 - Departed: IFP, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ - Destination: A20, Mohave, AZ - Airport: A20, Sun Valley, runway 18, 3,700 × 42 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 27, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 212 total, 208 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KIFP, 9 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 20170819011709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170819011709A), Aug 19, 2017: Piper PA-28-161, Mohave, AZ, Substantial damage. Pilot landed on runway 18 at sun valley airport near fort Mohave, Arizona. During the flare, just prior to touchdown, pilot stated that he encountered a strong… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 27, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95868. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461317&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, FAA (item 2, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461318&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of Operator) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461319&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-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.