# NTSB WPR21LA296: Piper PA-34-200T, N315JT, Chelan, WA, July 22, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 21, 2021, 18:00 local (Jul 22, 2021, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Chelan, WA
- Coordinates: 47.86696, -119.94148 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8670&lon=-119.9415&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA296
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103584/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA296

## Probable cause

The pilot’s unstable approach to land in turbulent conditions, which resulted in a hard landing short of the runway and subsequent loss of directional control and collision with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/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-34-200T, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that, while on final approach to land, the airplane encountered some turbulence and he landed hard short of the runway. The left main landing gear tire was blown when it contacted the runway asphalt. The airplane subsequently veered to the left and departed the left side of the runway onto the desert terrain. The landing gear collapsed, and the forward fuselage and windscreen center support structure were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N315JT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N315JT-2022-08-25), registration cancelled 2022-08-25, S/N 34-7870045 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7870045
- Airframe hours: 4469
- Engines: Continental Motors LTSIO-360-EB 200 horsepower reciprocating; Continental Motors TSIO-360-EB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: British Automotive Ltd DBA
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 2021
- Departed: PAE, Everett, WA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 91WT, Riverview Airpark, runway 18/36, 1,889 × 40 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: unknown, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 28, 2020; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 119° at 3 knots
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: S10, 3 nm away

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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