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ERA22LA195

2022-03-18 · Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport N94

Current FAA registration · N4468X

Make / Model
PIPER PA-32-300
Year of manufacture
1975 · 47 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING TI0-540 SER (310 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19751014
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A5646D

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in the airplane’s empennage impacting the runway surface during landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while in the landing flare, about 5 to 7 ft above ground level, the airplane “suddenly dropped” to the ground and the airplane’s tail struck the runway. The pilot then taxied the airplane to parking uneventfully. During a subsequent inspection of the airplane, the pilot and a mechanic found that the airplane’s empennage had sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of 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.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_ERA22LA195.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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