Probable cause
The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that, during landing, he flared too high, and the airplane aerodynamically stalled. He added that the airplane landed hard, the nose landing gear collapsed, the airplane veered right off the runway into the dirt, and it then nosed over.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA560 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 17, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Hillsdale, Michigan
- Nearest airport
- Hillsdale Muni (JYM)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA22
- N-number
- N3544A
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1954
- 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.