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GAA17CA282

2017-05-09 · Fremont, Ohio, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 14G

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate glidepath during approach, which resulted in an impact with a semi-truck.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during approach in visual meteorological conditions he referenced the RNAV instrument approach for the runway to assist with vertical guidance "as [there] is no VASI (visual approach slope indicator)" for that runway. He added that he thought he was high enough as he crossed the adjacent highway, but the airplane hit a semi-truck that was traveling across the airplane's flight path. The airplane continued on short approach, landed, and the main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the airplane veered to the left off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right engine firewalls, and nacelle tanks. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, during approach in visual meteorological conditions, he referenced the RNAV instrument approach for the runway to assist with vertical guidance "as [there] is no VASI [visual approach slope indicator]" for that runway. He added that he thought he was high enough as he crossed the adjacent highway, but the airplane hit a semi-truck that was traveling across the airplane's flightpath. The airplane continued on short approach, landed, and the main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the airplane veered to the left off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right engine firewalls and nacelle tanks. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Ground vehicle-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA282.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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