- Date
- December 5, 2017, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Cheboygan, MI
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4887SPiper PA 32
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 5, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20171205022729A
- Case key
- 96464
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain the airplane’s rate of descent in gusting wind conditions resulting in a hard landing and runway excursion.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, during approach to runway 28, he noticed that the vertical speed indicator showed an increase in the decent rate so he applied full power. He reported that the airplane landed hard, and he heard a "pop" and believed that the main landing gear tires had failed. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and struck a runway light. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft bulkhead, stringer, and skin. According to the METAR at the accident airport, about the time of the accident the wind was from 230° at 28 kts gusting to 42 kts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, during approach to runway 28, "I noticed the VSI showed a dramatic increase in the decent rate and I applied full power." He reported that the airplane landed hard, and he heard a "pop," and believed that the main landing gear tires had failed. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and struck a runway light. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft bulkhead, stringer and skin. According to the METAR at the accident airport, about the time of the accident the wind was from 230° at 28kts gusting to 42kts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4887S
- Reported as
- Piper PA 32 (260)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7100011
- Built
- 1971
- Airframe hours
- 15,028.3
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-E4B5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Great Lakes Air. Inc
- Registered owner
- Great Lakes Air. Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 25, 2017
- Departed
- 6Y1 · Bois Blanc Island, MI
- Destination
- SLH · Cheboygan, MI
- Airport
- SLH · Cheboygan County, runway 28, 4,005 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 11, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 2,439 total · 102 in this make and model · 2,306 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 38 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 28 knots, gusting 42
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,400 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.38 inHg
- Observed at
- KSLH
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4887S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.