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GAA17CA072

2016-11-11 · Payallup, Washington, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PLU

Current FAA registration · N9466K

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28R-200
Year of manufacture
1976 · 40 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING I0360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19760402
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AD26A6

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The airport’s failure to issue a NOTAM regarding the deployment of the traffic monitoring camera system before the accident, which resulted in the airplane striking the camera system during a short-field approach and landing.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot under examination, he was to accomplish a short field landing to the runway 17 numbers, during his single engine airplane flight instructor practical examination. He reported that during the transition from final to the flare, the bottom of the fuselage struck an aircraft traffic monitoring camera system. The camera system was located about 125 ft. north of the runway 17 threshold, and stood about 8 inches in height. After striking the camera, the pilot added power and landed the airplane on the runway 17 numbers. There were no NOTAM's regarding the use of the aircraft traffic monitoring system issued at the time of the accident. However, the next day a NOTAM regarding the deployment of the camera system was issued by the airport manager. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot under examination, he was to accomplish a short-field landing to the runway 17 numbers during his single-engine airplane flight instructor practical examination. He reported that, during the transition from final to the flare, the bottom of the fuselage struck an aircraft traffic monitoring camera system. The camera system was located about 125 ft north of the runway 17 threshold and was about 8 inches high. After striking the camera, the pilot added power and landed the airplane on the runway 17 numbers. There were no NOTAMs regarding the use of the aircraft traffic monitoring camera system issued at the time of the accident. However, the next day, the airport manager issued a NOTAM regarding the deployment of the camera system. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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 Organizational issues-Management-Policy/procedure-Adequacy of policy/proc-Airport - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Ground equipment-Effect on equipment - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA17CA072.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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