Marion Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marion, Indiana 46952
Friday, September 1, 2000 18:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported, "Upon landing, a severe rotary thermal (dust devil?) impacted plane on right rear tail surfaces and propelled aircraft sideways in turf by skidding to the right." Structural damage resulted to the wing and landing gear. The pilot reported there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot failed to maintain directional control during landing. A factor was the dust devil.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/1/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MARION
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46952
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport MARION MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MZZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 859
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 94
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 65
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10731
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 15 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Oct 17 2001 9:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3383A
NTSB Number CHI00LA297
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-22/20
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22/20
Aircraft Serial Number 22-1646
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 3 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 89
Airframe Hours 2967
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRANK P. SPERANDEO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15841 PEAR CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City FAYETTEVILLE
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72704
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FYV
Departure City FAYETTEVILLE
Departure State AR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MZZ
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 1 2001 8:51AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4
Runway Length 5200
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --