# NTSB NYC93LA019: Piper PA-28, N201MA, Grove City, PA, October 13, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 13, 1992, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Grove City, PA
- Coordinates: 41.149673, -80.07991 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1497&lon=-80.0799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37258
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37258/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA019

## Probable cause

THE PILOT RAISED THE FLAPS PREMATURELY, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT TO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO ALLOW RECOVERY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - improper, pilot in command
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET AGL, THE PILOT STARTED TO RETRACT THE FLAPS, THE AIRSPEED DROPPED AND THE STALL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON.  THE PILOT SAID THERE WAS NO RUNWAY REMAINING. WHEN HE GOT CLOSE TO THE GROUND HE ATTEMPTED TO FLARE, THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N201MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201MA-1992-10-30), registration cancelled 1992-10-30, S/N 2826771 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-26771
- Airframe hours: 3073
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Greg Thompson
- Registered owner: Greg Thompson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 9, 1992, 32 hours before
- Departed: 29D
- Airport: 29D, Grove City, runway 27, 4,400 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 628 total, 75 in this make and model, 570 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 5 knots, gusting 10

## Other investigations on N201MA (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 CHI72FEM30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72FEM30), Sep 15, 1971: Piper PA-28 (N201MA), Pellston, MI, substantial damage

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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