Willoughby Lost Nation Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Willoughby, Ohio 44094
Wednesday, April 21, 2004 15:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot entered the traffic pattern for runway 23, a 5,028-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane encountered moderate rain and gusty winds as it descended on final approach. The pilot said that as the airplane approached the runway, she did not add enough engine power in an adequate time frame to prevent a hard landing. The airplane bounced and came to rest on the runway. Subsequent inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the wing spar, fuselage, both engines, and propellers. A weather observation taken at an airport located about 16 miles southwest of the accident site included winds from 190 degrees at 16 knots, with 24 knot gusts, and a visibility of 8 statue miles with thunderstorm activity.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions associated with thunderstorm activity.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/21/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Willoughby
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44094
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 414102N
Event Location Longitude 0812323W
Event Location Airport WILLOUGHBY LOST NATION MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LNN
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 626
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1746 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility 879
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 24
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.7
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16162
NTSB Notification Source GLRCC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 23 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1022
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 1 2004 7:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Cleveland

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N497MA
NTSB Number NYC04CA110
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-34-220T
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3449011
Certified Max Gross Weight 4773
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 10 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 1234
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ametco Properties, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4326 Hamann Pkwy
Aircraft Owner City Willoughby
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44094
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Rona W. Mitrovich
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Mentor
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 44060
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 SPA
Departure City Spartanburg
Departure State SC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code LNN
Destination City Willoughby
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 27 2004 9:31AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 5028
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --