Accident Details
On April 7, 2017, at 1835 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-135 airplane, registration N2389A, impacted terrain during landing at Greensburg Municipal Airport (I34), Greensburg, Indiana. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and two passengers were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
Flight Sequence
The flight departed from Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (SRB), Sparta, Tennessee, about 1535, and was destined to I34. Prior to departing SRB, the pilot had made a fuel stop at Lagrange-Callaway Airport (LGC), LaGrange, Georgia, departing there at approximately 1330. The purpose of the flight to I34 was to refuel again.
Approach and Landing
The pilot stated that I34 did not have automated weather reporting. He slowed the airplane to look at the wind sock during approach. As the airplane slowed, it "slowly" banked left. He said the airplane was responsive when speed was increased. He performed a 360-degree turn and rolled out onto the runway for landing on runway 36. As the airplane slowed again, it banked left and landed in a field left of the runway. The airplane impacted the ground in a field approximately 300 feet west of the centerline of the runway and skidded approximately 200 feet before coming to a stop.
Post-Accident Examination
Post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration maintenance inspector from the Indianapolis Flight Standards District Office confirmed flight control continuity. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.