Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA18 near Tompkinsville, KY — 2023-11-04

Final reportERA24LA035
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Date
2023-11-04
Location
Tompkinsville, KY, USA
Airport
TZV
Aircraft
PIPER PA18
Registration
N4056Z
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was practicing an emergency descent and landing when he deployed full wing flaps and descended to the touchdown point. About 10 to 15 ft above ground level, the airplane encountered a rapid sink rate that he failed to arrest. The airplane touched down hard, and the fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot stated that, upon reflection, if he had added the power and extended the airplane’s glide path, he might have been in a better position for landing; however, he allowed the airplane to get “too slow.” The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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