On May 19, 2003, a Piper PA-22-160 (registration N9601D) was involved in an aviation accident near Pierre, SD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall. A contributing factor was the collapse of the main landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot reported an abrupt loss of airspeed while attempting to land at an unprepared location, resulting in a hard impact with the ground and subsequent collapse of the main landing gear.
What happened
The aircraft was involved in a landing incident at an off-airport location. According to the pilot's report, the airplane experienced an abrupt loss of airspeed during the approach phase. This sudden reduction in velocity caused the aircraft to impact the terrain prematurely.
Following the initial impact, the main landing gear collapsed under the stress of the hard touchdown. The airplane then slid across the ground before coming to a complete stop. No further details regarding injuries or specific damage extent were provided in the source text.
The investigation
The available information is limited to the pilot's account and local weather data. The weather reporting station at the departure airport recorded winds from 340 degrees at 15 knots at 1353. No mechanical examination results or further investigative findings are included in the source material.
Findings
The primary factor identified in the event was the abrupt loss of airspeed prior to touchdown. This aerodynamic failure led directly to the terrain impact and subsequent structural damage to the landing gear.