# NTSB SEA03LA198: Piper PA-22, N2291A, Cle Elum, WA, September 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 2003, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Cle Elum, WA - Coordinates: 47.168056, -120.883331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1681&lon=-120.8833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58024 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58024/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA198 ## Probable cause An undershoot due to the pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path on final approach to landing. A factor was the gravel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor) ## Analysis Observing he was low on the glide path during his approach to landing, the pilot added power but still landed 15 feet short of the runway, resulting in the nose gear collapsing. The aircraft continued forward for another 300 feet before encountering a gravel area, which resulted in the airplane flipping over and coming to rest in an inverted position. ## Factual narrative On September 29, 2003, at 1500 Pacific daylight time, a single-engine Piper PA-22 airplane, N2291A, was substantially damaged after landing short of runway 07 at the Cle Elum Municipal Airport (S93), Cle Elum, Washington. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The private pilot and his sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed and activated. The personal flight departed Ellensburg, Washington, at 1445, with Cle Elum as its destination. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that while on a "normal approach" he could see he was low on [the] glide path. The pilot stated that he then added power, but not enough and touched down 15 feet short of the runway. The pilot further stated that even though the nose gear collapsed, he was able to hold the nose off the ground for 300 feet until he entered a gravel area off the side of the runway. The pilot reported that after contacting the gravel area the airplane's nose dropped, digging into the gravel and traveling another 30 feet before flipping over and coming to rest in an inverted position. An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported the left wing, the rudder, and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The right wing strut was bent upward, the lower forward center section of the fuselage was damaged by impact from the collapsed nose gear, and both propeller blades were bent after striking the runway surface. At 1453, the weather reporting facility at the Ellensburg Municipal Airport, located 23 nautical miles southeast of S93, reported the wind was variable at 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2291A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2291A-2013-11-12), registration cancelled 2013-11-12, S/N 22-676, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-676 - Airframe hours: 3598 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Herm Moore - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 18, 2002, 62 hours before - Departed: ELN, Ellensburg, WA - Destination: S93, Cle Elum, WA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: S93, Cle Elum Municipal Airport, runway 07, 2,560 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 19, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,035 total, 940 in this make and model, 965 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: ELN, 23 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 20030929024909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030929024909A), Sep 29, 2003: Piper PA22, Cle Elum, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Airman conducted a normal landing approach. On short final the airman felt the approach becoming low, and thus added power. Airman stated that it became… 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.