# NTSB SEA01LA068: Piper PA-28, N33657, Scapoose, OR, March 30, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 2001, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Scapoose, OR
- Coordinates: 45.800502, -122.970993 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8005&lon=-122.9710&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Portland FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 51995
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51995/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA068

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain a speed above minimum in-flight stall speed (Vs). Factors include gusty winds at the time of the attempted landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)

## Analysis

While attempting to land in wind conditions that were changing between gusty and steady state, the pilot became convinced that his airspeed was too high. He therefore raised the nose of the aircraft to bleed off airspeed. As the aircraft slowed, the pilot failed to lower the nose in time to stop the deceleration, and the aircraft stall/mushed into the terrain from about 30 feet above the runway.

## Factual narrative

On March 30, 2001, approximately 1430 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28, N33657, impacted the terrain during an attempted landing at Scapoose Industrial Airport, Scapoose, Oregon. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by Pearson Flying Service, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Pearson Airpark, Vancouver, Washington, about five minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, he was landing in winds that were changing between gusty and steady state. As he approached the runway in the gusty wind conditions, he thought his airspeed had become too fast. He therefore raised the nose in order to slow the aircraft. As the aircraft slowed, the pilot failed to lower the nose in time to arrest its deceleration, and the aircraft stall/mushed into the terrain from an altitude of about 30 feet.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N33657](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33657-2002-07-26), registration cancelled 2002-07-26, S/N 28-7525221, built 1975 (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: 28-7525221
- Airframe hours: 2926
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aero Maintenance Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 2000, 88 hours before
- Departed: VUO, Pearson Airpark, WA
- Airport: SPB, Scaposse, runway 15, 5,100 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 30, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total, 3 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 55 °F

## 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 20010330004769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010330004769A), Mar 30, 2001: Piper PA28140, Scappoose, OR, No damage. (-23) Airman stalled the a/c at less than 30' above the runway. Added power but contacted the ground with the left wing. The a/c went across the taxiway, two…

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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