# NTSB WPR22LA300: Hoffman David J Murphy Elite, N8486D, Manley Hot Springs, AK, August 10, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2022, 13:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Manley Hot Springs, AK
- Coordinates: 64.640833, -151.804 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.6408&lon=-151.8040&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- 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: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105722
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA300
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105722/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105722
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA300

## Probable cause

The pilot’s unstable approach to land, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hoffman David J MURPHY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=05614ZH), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hoffman David J MURPHY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05614ZH), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Hoffman David J MURPHY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05614ZH), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the airplane reported that, while on final approach to land, he failed to maintain sufficient power which, resulted in a high sink rate, hard landing, and subsequent left landing gear collapse. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8486D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8486D), registered now, S/N E693 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HOFFMAN DAVID J MURPHY ELITE
- Registry model: [Hoffman David J MURPHY](https://openairdocs.org/model/hoffman-david-j-murphy) (registry code 05614ZH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: E693
- Year built: 2021
- Airframe hours: 44
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 10, 2022
- Departed: PAFA, Fairbanks, AK
- Destination: ArtZ, Manley Hot Springs, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 560 total, 45 in this make and model, 520 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1.2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: PATA, 33 nm away
- METAR: PATA 102052Z 00000KT 10SM SCT050 A3003 RMK AO2 SLPNO 55002 $

## 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 20220810014389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220810014389A), Aug 10, 2022: Hoffman David J MURPHY, Tanana, AK, Substantial damage. Approach too slow. Landed hard on rough strip.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105722. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14401295&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA300%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Damage photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14335098&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA300%20Damage%20Photo-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.

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