# NTSB SEA03LA067: Piper PA-28-140, N6268W, Orofino, ID, April 19, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 19, 2003, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Orofino, ID - Coordinates: 46.489444, -116.26889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4894&lon=-116.2689&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56870 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56870/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA067 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of speed and distance resulting in a loss of airspeed, stall and undershoot of runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall (contributing factor) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot set up for landing on runway 27 (2,500' X 50'). When he was approximately on a one-mile final he realized he was a little low and slow, and slowly started adding power. As the airplane came in over the river which borders the runway on the east, about a 1/4 mile final, it experienced a loss of lift and subsequently impacted terrain 50 feet short of the runway. The aircraft veered onto a grassy area where it skidded for 100 yards before coming to rest in an upright position. Both propeller blades were damaged, the nose gear collapsed rearward, the leading edge of the right wing was dented as a result of impacting a runway edge light, and there was substantial damage to the firewall. ## Factual narrative On April 19, 2003, approximately 1100 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 single-engine airplane, N6268W, was substantially damaged during an undershoot and loss of control on landing at the Orofino Municipal Airport, Orofino, Idaho. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport, Lewiston, Idaho, at 1000. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that after setting up on a one-mile final for runway 27 (2,500' X 50'), "I realized I was a little low and slow on the glideslope and slowly started adding power." The pilot further stated that on a 1/4 mile final coming in over the river which borders the runway on the east, the aircraft lost lift and impacted the grassy approach area 50 feet short of the runway. The pilot also reported that the landing marks indicated the main gear touched down first, then the nose gear began collapsing on contact. The aircraft veered left across the end of the runway and onto a grassy area where it skidded for 100 yards before coming to rest in an upright position. An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported substantial damage to the firewall as a result of the nose gear collapsing rearward, a small dent in the leading edge of the right wing, and damage to both propeller blades, the result of a propeller strike. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6268W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6268W), registered now, S/N 28-20316, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - 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: 28-20316 - Airframe hours: 4438 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 2002, 7 hours before - Departed: LWS, Lewiston, ID - Destination: S68, Orofino, ID - Airport: S68, Orofino Municipal Airport, runway 27, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 55; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 81 total, 48 in this make and model, 28 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg ## 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 20030419005649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030419005649A), Apr 19, 2003: Piper PA28140, Orofino, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) The student pilot allowed the airplane to get low and slow during final approach. Corrective actions were taken but were insufficient. The aircraft nose… ## Other investigations on N6268W (2) 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 OAK68D0057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK68D0057), Jun 30, 1967: Piper PA-28 (N6268W), Ukiah, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK65F0032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK65F0032), Mar 24, 1965: Piper PA-28 (N6268W), Concord, CA, 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. --- 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.