Western Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yelm, Washington 98597
Saturday, July 21, 2012 19:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was landing the twin-engine airplane on the runway, which was bordered by trees. After the airplane cleared the trees on the approach, he "pointed the airplane down." About 50 feet above the ground, the pilot began a flare for landing; however, the airplane did not respond and continued to descend at a steep rate until it impacted the runway’s displaced threshold. The airplane subsequently veered off the right side of the runway. During the accident sequence, the right main gear and nose gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot later reported that he allowed the airplane to get too slow on the approach. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed on approach and his inadequate flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/21/2012
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Yelm
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98597
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 465529N
Event Location Longitude 1223310W
Event Location Airport Western Airpark
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 06WN
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
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 --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30391
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 31 2012 10:38PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8574Y
NTSB Number WPR12CA320
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 30-1725
Certified Max Gross Weight 3275
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 12 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 4210
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CALLON DAVID G
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City YELM
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98597-9625
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CALLON DAVID G
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City YELM
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98597-9625
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 TDO
Departure City Toledo
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 06WN
Destination City Yelm
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 31 2012 10:38PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 09
Runway Length 2845
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --