# NTSB GAA18CA341: Piper PA 28, N4295T, Marion, IA, June 10, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 10, 2018, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Marion, IA - Coordinates: 42.029724, -91.531669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0297&lon=-91.5317&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97464 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA341 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97464/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97464 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA341 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper pitch during the first landing, which resulted in a porpoise, and the failure of the nose landing gear during the second landing after a subsequent go-around. ## 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: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during his first attempt to land, the nosewheel touched down first, and the airplane "porpoised." He aborted the landing and accomplished another landing, but when the airplane touched down on the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed. The pilot used differential braking to steer the airplane into the grassy area on the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if the airspeed had been slower and if the airplane's pitch attitude was better than the initial landing. Additionally, the pilot noted that he landed with a 90° crosswind from the left. The pilot reported that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from 08° at 11 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 17. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during his first attempt to land the nose wheel touched down first and the airplane "porpoised." He aborted the landing and accomplished another landing, but the airplane touched down on the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed. The pilot used differential braking to steer the airplane into the grass area on the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. Per the National Transportation Safety Board, Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, in the recommendation section, the pilot asserted that this accident could have been prevented if his airspeed had been slower and that the airplane's pitch attitude was better than the initial landing. Additionally, the pilot noted that he landed with a 90° crosswind from the left. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind was from 08° and the wind speed was 11 knots. The pilot landed on runway 17. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4295T (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28 (236) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8311022 - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 2488 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ham And Eggs LLC - Registered owner: Ham And Eggs LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 26, 2017 - Departed: 0F3, Spirit Lake, IA - Destination: C17, Marion, IA - Airport: C17, Marion, runway 17, 3,775 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 166 total, 147 in this make and model, 131 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,100 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KCID, 12 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 20180610007559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180610007559A), Jun 10, 2018: Piper PA-28-236, Marion, IA, Substantial damage. The pilot was flying back with 2 passengers to Marion (C17) [privacy data omitted]. He received weather information from kcid, nearest airport with automated… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97464. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468061&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.