On 30 Jul 2017, a PIPER PA28 236 was involved in an aviation accident near St. Joseph, IL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in the nose landing gear collapsing and subsequent loss of directional control. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that during a night landing, the threshold and right side runway lights were out. The airplane landed flat, the nose gear collapsed, and it veered left into a cornfield, sustaining substantial damage.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during a night landing, the threshold and right side runway lights were out of service at the airport. The pilot stated that he "must have been closer [to the ground] than [he] estimated" on approach, resulting in a flat landing. Subsequently, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered left. The pilot attempted to correct with right rudder input. The airplane came to rest to the left of the runway in an adjacent cornfield.
Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing.
Mechanical Status
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Contributing factors
Causes
Landing flare — Not attained/maintainedPilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained