NTSB GAA17CA422 — 2017-07-15 · Marion, Iowa, United States

Current FAA registration · N31841

Make / Model: PIPER PA-32-300
Year of manufacture: 1978 · 39 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER (300 hp)
Seats / Engines: 6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19780502
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A36787

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N31841 Piper PA32 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, after a normal touchdown, the nose of the airplane dropped, and he added power. Subsequently, the airplane bounced, exited the runway to the right, and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and engine mounts. 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, after a normal touchdown, the airplane's nose dropped, and he added power. Subsequently, the airplane bounced, exited the runway to the right, and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and engine mounts. 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-Directional control-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_2017_GAA17CA422.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.