Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain his descent rate during the landing, which resulted in a hard landing and runway excursion.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that when he initiated the landing flare, his sight picture "looked correct"; however the airplane impacted the runway before he transitioned to a "horizontal" attitude. The pilot reported that the airplane landed hard, bounced, exited the runway to the left, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.
The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies existed with the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA15CA287 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 26, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- West Bend, Wisconsin
- Nearest airport
- West Bend Muni (ETB)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA 24
- N-number
- N8583P
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1965
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.