| Crash location | 41.532778°N, 82.868611°W |
| Nearest city | Port Clinton, OH
41.511995°N, 82.937692°W 3.9 miles away |
| Tail number | N5227P |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 20 Jul 2002 |
| Aircraft type | Piper PA 24-250 |
| Additional details: | None |
On July 20, 2002, at 1415 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N5227P, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Carl R. Keller Field (PCW), Port Clinton, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and the pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to perform three takeoffs and landings for flight currency. She performed the preflight inspection, engine start, and run-up procedure by the checklist with no anomalies noted. During the procedures, she monitored the AWOS frequency, and noted that the winds had changed from southerly to northerly.
The pilot took off from runway 36, remained in the traffic pattern, and performed two full stop landings without incident. After each landing, she taxied back to the approach end of runway 36 for takeoff.
After her third takeoff, she completed a traffic pattern and configured the airplane for landing. The flaps were fully deployed, the airspeed was 80 knots, and the airplane was about 15 feet above the ground when it rolled to the right. The pilot felt an updraft on the left wing, and the passenger asked what it was. A few seconds later she heard the stall horn, saw the [stall warning] light, and "Bang!" on the runway all at the same time.
When asked if she pondered or initiated a go-around, the pilot said that she did not because the wings were level, and she was lined up with the runway.
In a written statement, the passenger stated that the airplane stalled during a practice landing.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. Her most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was issued July 9, 2002.
The pilot reported 424 hours of flight experience, 340 hours of which were in make and model. The pilot's most recent flight was October 13, 2000.
The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
The weather reported at an airport 27 miles west of Port Clinton, included variable winds at 6 knots.
The pilot's improper flare, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall.