# NTSB IAD04CA006: Piper PA-30, N7532Y, Louisville, KY, December 21, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 21, 2003, 17:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Louisville, KY - Coordinates: 38.227779, -85.663612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2278&lon=-85.6636&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Louisville FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58580 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD04CA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58580/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04CA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare, which resulted a hard landing. A factor was the glare from the setting sun. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - airport sign/marker - object - runway light ## Analysis The airplane landed hard, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane then skidded off the runway and collided with a taxiway sign and runway lights. The pilot subsequently reported that during the landing, about 10 feet above the ground, glare from the setting sun resulted in the loss of all attitude references, including the runway, horizon, and instrument panel. U.S. Naval Observatory data revealed that at the time of the accident, the sun was 3.2 degrees below the horizon, and 2.4 degrees to the right of runway centerline. ## Factual narrative On December 21, 2003, at 1740 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-30, N7532Y , was substantially damaged while landing at Bowman Field (LOU), Louisville, Kentucky. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the airplane was not operating on a flight plan. The personal flight, which departed Athens/Ben Epps Airport (AHN), Athens, Georgia, was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that during the landing on runway 24, about 10 feet above the ground, glare from the setting sun resulted in a "total loss of all references - runway, horizon, instrument panel, everything." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane subsequently landed hard, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded off the runway, collided with a taxiway sign and several runway lights, and came to rest in a grassy area. U.S. Naval Observatory data revealed that, at 1740, the altitude of the sun was -3.2 degrees and the azimuth was 242.4 degrees true. The direction of runway 24 at Louisville was 242 degrees magnetic, 240 degrees true. The weather reported at Louisville, at 1729, included winds from 220 degrees true at 8 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies below 12,000 feet, temperature 46 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 21 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 30.15 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7532Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7532Y-2014-08-22), registration cancelled 2014-08-22, S/N 30-570, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-570 - Airframe hours: 5782 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AHN, Athens, GA - Destination: LOU, Louisville, KY - Airport: LOU, Bowman Field, runway 24 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 3,996 total, 1,730 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: LOU ## 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 20031221036659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031221036659A), Dec 21, 2003: Piper PA30, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) While landing at Louisville, KY (lou), runway 24, just prior to flare, pilot's vision was impaired by the sunlight. Pilot flared the aircraft high. The… 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.