Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Piper PA-32-300, N4468X: Accident occurred March 18, 2022 at Carlisle Airport (N94), Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Hanger Aviation Inc 


Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Accident Number: ERA22LA195
Date and Time: March 18, 2022, 19:30 Local
Registration: N4468X
Aircraft: Piper PA-32-300
Injuries: 6 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On March 18, 2022, about 1930 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N4468X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Carlisle Airport (N94), Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The pilot and five passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane with no anomalies noted. Using an updated weight & balance data sheet, he calculated his takeoff for six persons and full fuel, stating “I recalculated my weight and balance and found I was under gross and towards the rear of the CG envelope with full fuel.” He then topped-off the fuel tanks and departed for N94.

The pilot further stated that as the airplane approached N94, the “winds were 170@14, this made my decision to land on [runway] 10 which had a 5-knot headwind and 14 knot crosswind.” While in the landing flare, “suddenly the crosswind almost disappeared, and the sink rate increased.” The airplane dropped to the runway surface resulting in a hard landing. The pilot subsequently taxied the airplane to a hangar. The next morning, he inspected the airplane and found damage near the tail tie down ring of the airplane.

Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the aft tail bulkhead and outer skin.

The airplane was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N4468X
Model/Series: PA-32-300
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC 
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: CXY,335 ft msl
Observation Time: 19:56 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 15 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C /10°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 13 knots / 20 knots, 140°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 7000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.9 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Departure Point: Hagerstown, MD (HGR)
Destination: Carlisle, PA

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 5 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 6 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 40.187826,-77.170024 (est)

Aircraft incurred a tail strike on landing. 

Date: 18-MAR-22
Time: 23:30:00Z
Regis#: N4468X
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA32
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: CARLISLE
State: PENNSYLVANIA

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