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ERA24LA132

2024-03-08 · Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ABE

Current FAA registration · N3023K

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28RT-201
Year of manufacture
1978 · 46 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING I0360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19790117
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A3298B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the final approach, resulting in a hard landing and collision with a runway edge light.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was on short final approach for landing when he encountered a windshear. The airplane started to sink toward the runway. He added power; however, it was too late due to his altitude. Upon touchdown, the airplane landed hard, breaking two runway threshold lights from their mounts . An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the airport surface weather observations revealed no reports of wind gusts or variable wind before or after the accident. 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-Descent rate-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_ERA24LA132.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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