Country Air Estates Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lonoke, Arkansas 72086
Saturday, October 13, 2007 9:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot inadvertently executed a hard landing on runway 18 (3,800 feet by 100 feet, turf). The pilot stated that he landed short in order to avoid back taxiing and to minimize delays for other aircraft. The pilot stated he "landed hard and struck the left prop on the ground." He subsequently taxied safely to parking. A post accident inspection revealed damage to the left wing inboard of the engine, and to the left side of the fuselage under the pilot's side window. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions related to the aircraft prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare resulting in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/13/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Lonoke
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72086
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 344850N
Event Location Longitude 0920000W
Event Location Airport Country Air Estates
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1AR9
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 250
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LIT
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22891
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 13 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2008 4:08PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-Little Rock FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8635Y
NTSB Number CHI08CA036
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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-30
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 30-1776
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name 5280 Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City New Castle
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19720
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Todd C Sears
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Mayflower
Operator State AR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 72106
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 ORK
Departure City N Little Rock
Departure State AR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 1AR9
Destination City Lonoke
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 4 2008 10:31AM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 3800
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --