ALBUQUERQUE, NM, USA
N47BS
Otero-Pitts PT1
While on a local flight, conducting touch-and-go landings, the pilot, who was considering buying the aircraft, allowed the aircraft to touch down short of the runway. The airplane bounced and landed hard about 100 feet onto the runway. The main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded to a halt with damage to the lower wing, engine, propeller, and engine mounts. The pilot was inexperienced in make and model aircraft and did not possess a medical certificate as required in the United States when operating on a foreign equivalent issued license and flying a United States registered aircraft.
On October 30, 2000, at approximately 1510 mountain standard time, an Otero-Pitts PT1, N47BS, sustained substantial damage when it touched down short of the runway during a touch-and-go landing at Coronado Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for this local personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at approximately 1440. The pilot stated to the on scene Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that she was considering purchasing the airplane. She had been flying for about 30 minutes and was doing touch-and-go landings on runway 17. She said she came in fast and long on a previous approach and made a go-around. As she made her next approach, she said a gust of wind struck the airplane and the airplane settled hard and collided with the ground short of the runway. The airplane bounced and settled hard on the runway about 100 feet from the approach end. The main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded to a halt. There was damage to the lower wing spar, engine mounts, firewall, and the main landing gear. The G-meter recorded 8+ G's. Recorded weather at the time of the accident was winds from wind from 180 degrees magnetic heading at 8 knots. No gusts were recorded. According to the aircraft owner, the pilot was not experienced in this make and/or model and he had given her a local checkout prior to this flight. The pilot possessed a private pilot certificate issued on the basis of, and valid only when accompanied by a United Kingdom pilot license. She did not possess a medical certificate. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, no medical certificate is required so long as the pilot does not fly a United States registered aircraft or is involved in training. The pilot can only fly his or her own aircraft while operating in the United States. Several attempts to obtain an accident report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) meet with negative results.
A hard landing, which exceeded the design stress limits of the aircraft. Factors were the pilot's lack of experience in aircraft make and model and improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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