1 Sep 2014: PIPER PA 28-140

1 Sep 2014: PIPER PA 28-140 — Unknown operator

No fatalities • Plymouth, IN, United States

Probable cause

The sun glare and the pilot's subsequent loss of airplane control.

— NTSB Determination

Accident 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.

Contributing factors

  • cause Pilot
  • cause Effect on operation
  • cause Effect on personnel
  • cause Airspeed — Not attained/maintained
  • cause Altitude — Not attained/maintained

Conditions

Weather
VMC, vis 10sm

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