- Date
- May 25, 2008, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Fields, OR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N7076KPiper PA-20
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Windshear or thunderstorm
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 29, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20080525836159A
- Case key
- 68101
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the approach. Contributing to the accident was a windshear.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The private pilot reported that on final approach to the unimproved landing site, at about 50 feet above ground level, he detected a "sinking feeling," followed by a "drastic" loss of airspeed. The pilot stated that he applied full throttle in an attempt to go around, but the sinking continued and the airplane "pancaked" onto the ground. The pilot reported that he had not encountered any turbulence during the flight, but there were [rain] showers within approximately 10 miles of the landing site. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident. The airplane received substantial damage to both main landing gear and the fuselage.
Factual narrative
The private pilot reported that on final approach to the unimproved landing site, at about 50 feet above ground level, he detected a "sinking feeling," followed by a "drastic" loss of airspeed. The pilot stated that he applied full throttle in an attempt to go around, but the sinking continued and the airplane "pancaked" onto the ground. The pilot reported that he had not encountered any turbulence during the flight, but there were [rain] showers within approximately 10 miles of the landing site. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident. The airplane received substantial damage to both main landing gear and the fuselage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7076K
- Reported as
- Piper PA-20
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20-183
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Marcus M Henderson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- E85 · Denio, OR
- Destination
- Fields, OR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 113 total · 54 in this make and model · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.81 inHg
- Observed at
- REO
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7076K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.