PIPER PA 28-140
Plymouth, IN — September 1, 2014
Event Information
| Date | September 1, 2014 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN14CA481 |
| Event ID | 20140904X54306 |
| Location | Plymouth, IN |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 41.41500, -86.30000 |
| Airport | Plymouth Municipal Airport |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA 28-140 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DUSK |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The sun glare and the pilot's subsequent loss of airplane control.
Full Narrative
While preparing to land on runway 28, the pilot switched to runway 10, but then switched back to runway 28 to avoid hot air balloon and helicopter operations at the airport. While on final approach to runway 28, the pilot was blinded by the sun. The pilot stated that the airplane started to settle and he was "too low and too slow" over the cornfield. The airplane impacted the ground between the runway and the cornfield and slid across a road before coming to a stop. The fuselage and firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.