On November 7, 1987, a Piper PA-28-140 (registration N667FL) operated by Rudolph J. Fields was involved in an aviation accident near Sebring, OH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot was distracted by another aircraft entering the traffic pattern, which led to an inadvertent decrease in airspeed, resulting in a stall and hard landing short of the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane landed hard short of the runway, sustaining structural damage to landing gear and both wings, after the pilot became distracted by another aircraft in the traffic pattern and allowed airspeed to decrease.
Incident Overview
An airplane experienced a hard landing short of the runway, resulting in structural damage to the landing gear and both wings. The pilot reported that his attention was diverted by another aircraft that entered the traffic pattern ahead of him, causing him to inadvertently allow the airplane's airspeed to decrease. The aircraft subsequently impacted rising terrain a few feet short of the runway threshold. The stall warning light was observed to illuminate just prior to impact.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that the distraction from the other airplane in the traffic pattern led to a loss of focus on maintaining appropriate airspeed. As a result, the airplane's speed diminished, leading to a stall condition that was indicated by the illumination of the stall warning light moments before the aircraft struck the ground short of the runway.
Damage
The hard landing caused structural damage to the landing gear and both wings. The extent of damage to other components was not specified.
Probable cause
The pilot was distracted by another aircraft entering the traffic pattern, which led to an inadvertent decrease in airspeed, resulting in a stall and hard landing short of the runway.
What happened in the 7 Nov 1987 Piper PA-28-140 accident near Sebring, OH?
An airplane landed hard short of the runway, sustaining structural damage to landing gear and both wings, after the pilot became distracted by another aircraft in the traffic pattern and allowed airspeed to decrease.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 7 Nov 1987 involved a Piper PA-28-140, registration N667FL, operated by Rudolph J. Fields, at Sebring, OH.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot was distracted by another aircraft entering the traffic pattern, which led to an inadvertent decrease in airspeed, resulting in a stall and hard landing short of the runway.
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