Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in his inability to properly flare the airplane and the subsequent hard landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On August 28, 2005, at 1600 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8103V, experienced a hard landing on runway 18 (2,000 feet by 50 feet, grass) on a private airstrip in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Adrian, Michigan, at 1540.
The pilot reported, "... we crossed the electric wires and as soon as we were across we made a slight dip in flight to get down... ." He reported he then pulled back on the control yoke to flare and added power to increase the pitch attitude; however, the engine power did not increase. The pilot reported the airplane "...made a very hard landing" during which the left main and nose gears collapsed.
The pilot reported on the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI05CA247