- Date
- November 3, 2018, 19:30 local (Nov 4, 2018, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Merced, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2956BPiper PA28
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20181103025179A
- Case key
- 98607
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 improper glidepath during a landing at night, which resulted in a collision with approach lights.
Findings · 4
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
The pilot reported that, during a night currency flight, he flew to an airport with which he was not familiar. He recalled that the approach was normal, and that, during the flare, the airplane collided with three of the runway's medium-intensity approach lighting system runway alignment indicator lights. He then landed the airplane on the runway, and during taxi to parking, the nosewheel tire deflated. The pilot reported that it had been more than 90 days since his last flight at night. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the lower right aft fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during a night currency flight, he flew to an airport that he was not familiar with. He recalled that the approach was normal, and during the flare the airplane collided with the runway 30 medium intensity approach lighting system runway alignment indicator lights. The airplane landed on the runway and during taxi to parking the nose wheel tire deflated. However, there were a total of three approach lighting system frangible light masts that the airplane collided with. The first mast that the airplane collided with was 35ft AGL, and 1,400ft from the runway threshold and 2,400ft from the runway touch down zone. The second mast was 1,200 ft from the runway threshold, and the third mast was 1,000ft from the runway threshold. The pilot reported that it had been greater than 90 days since his last flight at night. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the lower right aft fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2956B
- Reported as
- Piper PA28 (236)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7911270
- Built
- 1979
- Airframe hours
- 2,999.82
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-J3A5D, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 2018
- Departed
- LHM · Lincoln, CA
- Destination
- MCE · Merced, CA
- Airport
- MCE · Merced Rgnl/Macready Field, runway 30, 5,914 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot
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
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 9, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 253 total · 251 in this make and model · 288 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- KMCE
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 27, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.5 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.