# NTSB MKC84LA270: Piper PA-28-181, N21489, Grain Valley, MO, September 6, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 6, 1984, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Grain Valley, MO
- Coordinates: 38.999191, -94.199279 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9992&lon=-94.1993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33787
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC84LA270
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33787/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC84LA270

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - wind information - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - information unclear, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,wind direction indicator - failure,partial
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE LANDING GSAR COLLAPSED AS A RESULT OF A HARD LANDING IN GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. ALTHOUGH THE AIRPORT WIND SOCK WAS TATTERED, SUFFICIENT WIND INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE FROM FSS AND UNICOM TO ALERT THE PILOT TO THE NEED FOR COMPENSATION ON APPROACH. THE NEAREST WX REPORTING STATION, 18 NM SW, REPORTED WINDS FROM 230 DEG AT 15 KTS GUSTING TO 26 KTS. THE FBO OPERATOR AT THE AIRPORT STATED WINDS WERE FROM 200 DEG WITH GUSTS TO 30 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N21489](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21489), registered now, S/N 28-7990050, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7990050
- Airframe hours: 1810
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Key City Flyers, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 1984, 15 hours before
- Departed: CID, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
- Airport: 3GV, East Kansas City, runway 23, 2,265 × 25 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 714 total, 154 in this make and model, 601 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 15 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GVN, 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 19840906047319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840906047319A), Sep 6, 1984: Piper PA28181, Grain Valley, MO, Substantial damage. Made hard landing in severe gusty surface winds. Impact collapsed the nose and left main gear. Slid off runway.

## Other investigations on N21489 (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 CHI90LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA275), Sep 27, 1990: Piper PA-28-181 (N21489), Amana, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT NOT ATTAINED AND GO-AROUND DELAYED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE ATC COMMUNICATIONS INADEQUATE AND WET, GRASS RUNWAY WITH A TAILWIND ENVIRONMENT PLUS A…

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.

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