# NTSB WPR12CA320: Piper PA-30, N8574Y, Yelm, WA, July 22, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 21, 2012, 19:00 local (Jul 22, 2012, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Yelm, WA - Coordinates: 46.92472, -122.55278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9247&lon=-122.5528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Post-impact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/700) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Post-impact: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84415 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA320 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84415/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84415 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA320 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed on approach and his inadequate flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing the twin-engine airplane on the runway, which was bordered by trees. After the airplane cleared the trees on the approach, he "pointed the airplane down." About 50 feet above the ground, the pilot began a flare for landing; however, the airplane did not respond and continued to descend at a steep rate until it impacted the runway’s displaced threshold. The airplane subsequently veered off the right side of the runway. During the accident sequence, the right main gear and nose gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot later reported that he allowed the airplane to get too slow on the approach. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was landing the twin-engine airplane on the 2,845-foot-long, hard surfaced runway, which was bordered by trees. After the airplane cleared the trees on the approach, he “…pointed the airplane down.” Approximately 50 feet above the ground the pilot began a flare for landing; however, the airplane did not respond and continued to descend at a steep rate until it impacted the runway’s displaced threshold. The airplane subsequently veered off the right side of the runway. During the accident sequence, the right main gear and nose gear collapsed which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot later reported that he allowed the airplane to get too slow on approach. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8574Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8574Y-2013-02-27), registration cancelled 2013-02-27, S/N 30-1725, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-1725 - Airframe hours: 4210 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Callon David G - Registered owner: Callon David G - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 2012, 26 hours before - Departed: TDO, Toledo, WA - Destination: 06WN, Yelm, WA - Airport: 06WN, Western Airpark, runway 09, 2,845 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,051 total, 775 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 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 20120721013819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120721013819A), Jul 21, 2012: Piper PA-30, Yelm, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot cut power too soon and dropped in from approximately 50 feet, had to come in to land over tall trees and get down to runway quickly due to length of… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84415. 140 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375514&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.