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CEN12LA337

2012-06-04 · Put-in-Bay, Ohio, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 3W2

Current FAA registration · N2434M

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-181
Year of manufacture
1977 · 35 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19771208
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A23E14

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & 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.

Factual narrative

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. 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 Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Lack of action-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-Climb capability-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_CEN12LA337.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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