Piper PA28 N2956B

Summary

On 4 November 2018 at about 02:30 local time, a Piper PA28 registered N2956B was involved in an accident near Merced, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 November 2018 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Merced, California, United States

Nearest airport

Merced Rgnl/Macready Field (MCE)

Coordinates

37.2847, -120.5139

Aircraft

Piper PA28

Registration

N2956B

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lincoln → Merced

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

GAA19CA052

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper glidepath during a landing at night, which resulted in a collision with approach lights.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during a night currency flight, he flew to an airport with which he was not familiar. He recalled that the approach was normal, and that, during the flare, the airplane collided with three of the runway's medium-intensity approach lighting system runway alignment indicator lights. He then landed the airplane on the runway, and during taxi to parking, the nosewheel tire deflated. The pilot reported that it had been more than 90 days since his last flight at night. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the lower right aft fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.