Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-32R-301 near Sparta, MI — 2021-01-12

Final reportCEN21LA112
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Date
2021-01-12
Location
Sparta, MI, USA
Airport
8D4
Aircraft
PIPER PA-32R-301
Registration
N35718
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper glideslope during final approach, which resulted in contact with a snowbank at the approach end of the runway.

NTSB narrative

The airplane touched down short of the runway and encountered a snowbank adjacent to the approach threshold. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded along the runway before coming to rest. The pilot reported that he “misjudged the end of the runway” during landing after executing a GPS approach. There were no malfunctions associated with the airplane before the accident. He noted that maintaining the glideslope guidance provided by the precision approach path indicator would have prevented the accident. Additionally, canceling his instrument flight plan while on the approach “proved distracting.” The snowbank was less than 3-ft high and would not have been an issue had the pilot maintained the proper approach glideslope. Although the airframe accumulated about 1/2 inch of ice during the descent and approach, there is no evidence that it contributed to the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Maintaining glideslope guidance could have prevented the accident.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ATC audio
  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 23 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents23

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