# NTSB GAA19CA518: Piper PA32RT, N2228B, Ashland, OR, August 28, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 27, 2019, 20:50 local (Aug 28, 2019, 03:50 UTC)
- Place: Ashland, OR
- Coordinates: 42.509998, -123.388053 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5100&lon=-123.3881&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100169
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA518
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100169/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100169
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA518

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced, hard landing and propeller strike, and his subsequent loss of directional control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during landing, shortly after touchdown, the airplane bounced. The airplane then touched down hard, and the propellers struck the ground. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane exited the runway and came to rest upright on grassy terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during landing, shortly after touchdown, the airplane bounced. The airplane then touched down hard and the propellers struck the ground. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane exited the runway and came to rest upright on grassy terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2228B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2228B-2020-09-11), registration cancelled 2020-09-11, S/N 32R-7987039, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA32RT (300T)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7987039
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 3219.65
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-SlAD reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 18, 2019
- Departed: HIO, Portland, OR
- Destination: S03, Ashland, OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 3S8, Grants Pass, runway 31, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 100 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg

## 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 20190827008959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190827008959A), Aug 27, 2019: Piper PA-32RT-300T, Ashland, OR, Substantial damage. The pilot of N2228B bounced the Landing on runway 30 at Ashland Municipal Airport (S03). The airplane's subsequent contact with runway 30 resulted in multiple…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100169. 616 KB in all.

- FAA Inspector's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 282 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481111&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 335 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481112&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.