# NTSB LAX94LA381: Piper PA-28, N4813T, Woodland, CA, September 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 25, 1994, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Woodland, CA - Coordinates: 38.709743, -121.849609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7097&lon=-121.8496&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28875 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28875/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA381 ## Probable cause the failure of the pilot to maintain an adequate airspeed during a short field approach and the inadvertent entry into a stall/mush condition. In addition, the instructor failed to take proper remedial action. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING A FULL FLAP, SHORT FIELD APPROACH. THE APPROACH PROCEEDED AS PLANNED UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 40 FEET AGL AND 200 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. AT THIS POINT, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A 'THERMAL' AND THE DESCENT RATE SUDDENLY INCREASED. HE ADDED POWER BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SINK AND HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ONBOARD REPORTED THEIR AIRSPEED BECAME 'TOO SLOW' AND THEY 'LOST LIFT.' THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ABOUT 20 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD AND STRUCK A BERM. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY. THE WINDS WERE CALM DURING THE APPROACH. ## Factual narrative On September 25, 1994, at 1530 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140E, N4813T, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Woodland, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. The certificated flight instructor on board was conducting a biennial flight review. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and no flight plan had been filed for the operation. Neither of the certificated pilots were injured. The flight originated from Nut Tree airport at 1400 on the day of the accident. The flight instructor reported that the pilot was attempting a full flap, short field approach to runway 16 at Yolo County airport. During the approach, their airspeed became "too slow" and they "lost lift." The aircraft landed hard about 20 feet short of the runway threshold. After touchdown, the landing gear struck a berm which preceded the runway threshold. The aircraft slid to a stop on the runway numbers. The pilot who was on the controls reported that he had initiated the approach from the traffic pattern, turning final about 1/2 mile from the approach end of the runway. He stated that he was on a stabilized approach at what he estimated to be less than a 3-degree descent angle. He reported his altitude and airspeed at the completion of his turn to final as 600 feet agl and 70 knots. He said he was maintaining a power setting of between 1,700 and 1,900 rpms which gave him a vertical descent rate of between 400 and 500 fpm and that he had fully lowered his flaps by the time his altitude reached 300 feet agl. He described the approach as proceeding as planned until the aircraft was about 40 feet above ground level and about 200 feet short of the runway. At this point in the approach, he said the aircraft encountered a "thermal" and the descent rate suddenly increased. He said that he added power to between 2,100 and 2,200 rpms, but that the aircraft continued to sink and he was unable to stop the descent. He reported his airspeed decreased to between 66 to 67 knots during his attempted recovery. He stated that winds remained calm during the approach. A postaccident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector revealed that the landing gear was sheared and collapsed, an engine mount was fractured, and the propeller blades were bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4813T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4813T-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N 28-7225212, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7225212 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: William R. Lee - Registered owner: William Roger Lee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 1994, 1 hours before - Departed: O45, VACAVILLE, CA - Airport: 2Q3, Yolo County Airport, runway 16, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,684 total, 210 in this make and model, 2,254 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SAC, 18 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 19940925030459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940925030459A), Sep 25, 1994: Piper PA28140, Winters/Davis/W, CA, Substantial damage. On biennial review tried short field landing. Landed 20 ft short. Hit runway lip. Sheared gear. Slid onto runway. ## Other investigations on N4813T (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX06CA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA282), Sep 2, 2006: Piper PA-28-140 (N4813T), Auburn, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to comply with weight and balance limitations and failure to attain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall and loss of control. 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.