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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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September 29, 2003 · Piper PA-22 · N2291A

Cle Elum, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 29, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Cle Elum, WA
Aircraft
Piper PA-22
Tail Number
N2291A
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA03LA198

Observing he was low on the glide path during his approach to landing, the pilot added power but still landed 15 feet short of the runway, resulting in the nose gear collapsing. The aircraft continued forward for another 300 feet before encountering a gravel area, which resulted in the airplane flipping over and coming to rest in an inverted position.

NTSB Probable Cause

An undershoot due to the pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path on final approach to landing. A factor was the gravel.

Full Narrative

On September 29, 2003, at 1500 Pacific daylight time, a single-engine Piper PA-22 airplane, N2291A, was substantially damaged after landing short of runway 07 at the Cle Elum Municipal Airport (S93), Cle Elum, Washington. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The private pilot and his sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed and activated. The personal flight departed Ellensburg, Washington, at 1445, with Cle Elum as its destination. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that while on a "normal approach" he could see he was low on [the] glide path. The pilot stated that he then added power, but not enough and touched down 15 feet short of the runway. The pilot further stated that even though the nose gear collapsed, he was able to hold the nose off the ground for 300 feet until he entered a gravel area off the side of the runway. The pilot reported that after contacting the gravel area the airplane's nose dropped, digging into the gravel and traveling another 30 feet before flipping over and coming to rest in an inverted position. An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported the left wing, the rudder, and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The right wing strut was bent upward, the lower forward center section of the fuselage was damaged by impact from the collapsed nose gear, and both propeller blades were bent after striking the runway surface. At 1453, the weather reporting facility at the Ellensburg Municipal Airport, located 23 nautical miles southeast of S93, reported the wind was variable at 3 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 PDT
Nearest AirportCle Elum Municipal Airport (0nm)
Runway07
Runway Length2560 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-22
Tail NumberN2291A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 55 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C
Altimeter29.94 inHg
Observation Time21:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data