Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-32-260 near Chetek, WI — 2024-08-14

Final reportCEN24LA322
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Date
2024-08-14
Location
Chetek, WI, USA
Airport
Y23
Aircraft
PIPER PA-32-260
Registration
N3613W
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare and hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane landed hard and bounced. He attempted to recover by flaring the nose up to bleed off energy as a gust of wind blew the airplane to the left of runway centerline. The pilot stated that during the hard landing he hit his head on the glareshield and momentarily lost consciousness. When he regained consciousness, the airplane was flying towards the trees located to the east of runway 17. The airplane collided with the trees and both wings separated from the fuselage; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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