Piper PA-28-161 N4349K

Summary

On 18 September 2008 at about 02:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N4349K, operated by Sigurd Larsen III, was involved in an accident near Lakeville, Minnesota, 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

18 September 2008 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lakeville, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Airlake Airport (LVN)

Coordinates

44.6278, -93.2281

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N4349K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Sigurd Larsen III

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lakeville → Minneapolis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CHI08CA285

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's lack of clearance from the approach lights and the distraction of those bright approach lights during his night approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was going to perform two night landings at the accident airport before departing to his destination. He said that he was too high on final and reduced the power to idle and descended. The approach lights were on and the pilot reported that they were bright. He said that he was pressing the push to talk switch while looking at the lights and heard a loud bang. He stated that the airplane porpoised and he then regained control and landed. The approach lights were damaged and the airplane sustained substantial damage. His safety recommendation said, "I should have aborted landing when I saw I was too high – went around, adjusted light brightness in the pattern and then landed."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.