Piper PA-32 accident near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, March 18, 2022
On March 18, 2022 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1976 Piper PA-32, registered N4468X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Carlisle Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in the airplane’s empennage impacting the runway surface during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2022 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Carlisle, Pennsylvania · Carlisle Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32 300, built 1976 · all PA-32s on the register
- Registration
- N4468X · registry record · serial 32-7640024
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while in the landing flare, about 5 to 7 ft above ground level, the airplane “suddenly dropped” to the ground and the airplane’s tail struck the runway. The pilot then taxied the airplane to parking uneventfully. During a subsequent inspection of the airplane, the pilot and a mechanic found that the airplane’s empennage had sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 75 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 44 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 8, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,937 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HGR Hagerstown MD at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 10, 4,008 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 140° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from CXY, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCXY 182356Z 14013G20KT 10SM BKN070 21/10 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP127 T02060100 10256 20206 58003=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 7, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.