Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CEN12LA337

Put-in-Bay, OH, USA

Aircraft #1

N2434M

PIPER PA-28-181

Analysis

The airplane touched down too far down the runway at a high rate of speed and began to porpoise. The pilot aborted the landing, and during the climb, which was too shallow, the airplane's left wing struck trees near the departure end of the runway and was substantially damaged. The airplane returned to the airport and landed without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation

Factual Information

On June 4, 2012, at 1217 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N2434M, was substantially damaged when it struck a tree during climbout from an aborted landing at Put-in-Bay Airport (3W2), Put-in-Bay, Ohio. The pilot returned to the airport and landed without further incident. The private pilot and three passengers were uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Bluffton Sky Pirates, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight that departed from Bluffton Airport (5G7), Bluffton, Ohio, about 1030, and was destined for 3W2. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane touched down too far down runway 3 (2,870 feet by 75 feet, asphalt), at a fast speed, and began to porpoise. The pilot then performed an aborted landing. During climbout, the airplane's left wing sustained damage to the left wing rib when it struck trees at the departure end of the runway. No other anomalies were found with the airplane.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point at the proper speed, his failure to initiate a go-around, and the airplane’s inadequate climb gradient after the aborted landing, which resulted in impact with the trees.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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