# NTSB WPR21LA343: Piper PA-24-400, N8501P, Fullerton, CA, August 30, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 30, 2021, 13:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Fullerton, CA - Coordinates: 33.872014, -117.97978 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8720&lon=-117.9798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103858 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA343 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103858/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103858 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA343 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to monitor the environment and maintain a proper glidepath on approach which, resulted in a collision with the airport perimeter fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102408), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/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-24-400, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102408), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-24-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7102408), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/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: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102408), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while accomplishing a straight in approach to land, he was slowing the airplane down, and was not paying attention to an obstacle ahead when he extended the landing gear and flaps at the last moment. The airplane subsequently struck the airport perimeter fence and then collided with terrain before coming to rest on the runway. The wings and fuselage 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: [N8501P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8501P-2023-04-26), registration cancelled 2023-04-26, S/N 26-81, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-400 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-400) (registry code 7102408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-720 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-720-series) (registry code 41546, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 26-81 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 3653 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-720 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 11, 2021 - Departed: CNO, Chino, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FUL, Fullerton Muni, runway 06/24, 3,121 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 90; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 28, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 3,834 total, 2,805 in this make and model, 3,733 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: KFUL - METAR: METAR KFUL 301953Z 19008KT 10SM FEW070 SCT200 26/17 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP084 T02610167 ## 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 20210830017009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210830017009A), Aug 30, 2021: Piper PA-24-400, Fullerton, CA, Substantial damage. On August 30, 2021 at 2045(zulu) / 1345 (local) PST, Piper comanche (PA-24-400), bearing registration mark N8501P and serial number 26-81 was being flown by… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103858. 7.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12791815&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_1%20Final_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident pictures (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 261 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12791508&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA343%20Accident%20Pictures-Rel.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.