NTSB CEN13CA125 — 2012-12-27 · Middle Bass Island, Ohio, United States

Current FAA registration · N428S

Make / Model: PIPER PA-32-301
Year of manufacture: 1980 · 32 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER (300 hp)
Seats / Engines: 7 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19801126
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A51AE7

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N428S Piper PA-32-301 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot did not attain the proper touchdown point during landing, which resulted in impact with the edge of the runway surface.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane touched down short of the runway threshold during landing. When the airplane's landing gear contacted the edge of the paved runway, the right main landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right main wing spar. The pilot noted that there were 1 to 2 foot tall snow piles at the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down short of the runway threshold during landing. When the airplane's landing gear contacted the edge of the paved runway, the right main landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right main wing spar. The pilot noted that 1- to 2-foot tall snow piles were at the approach end of the runway. 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-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_CEN13CA125.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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