Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary NYC05CA120

Allentown, PA, USA

Aircraft #1

N78SF

Piper PA-34-200T

Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, followed by the nose gear, and then bounced back into the air. He then added engine power, and landed without further incident. After taxiing to the ramp, the pilot noticed damage to the airplane's nose gear. Further examination revealed damaged to the nose frame assembly, and windshield frame. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions. He reported 3,700 hours of total flight experience, which included 16 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

Factual Information

On July 2, 2005, about 0935 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N78SF, was substantially damaged while landing at the Queen City Municipal Airport, Allentown, Pennsylvania. The certificated airline transport rated pilot, and four passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Saranac Lake, New York. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he was landing on runway 25, a 3,950-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear, followed by the nose gear, and then bounced back into the air. The pilot added engine power, and landed without further incident. After taxiing to the ramp, the pilot noticed damage to the airplane's nose gear. Further examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damaged to the nose frame assembly, and windshield frame. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions. He reported 3,700 hours of total flight experience, which included 16 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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