# Accident 19990309002329A: Piper PA32R300, Richmond, VA, March 9, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 9, 1999, 18:30 local time
- Place: Richmond, VA
- Airport: Richmond International - Byrd Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: FFKA
- Location: 37.4997° N, 77.3203° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4997&lon=-77.3203&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5454F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5454F-2012-08-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R300
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,700 total, 300 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA073) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990309002329A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(TTY) ACFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AFTER LANDING, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (-23) HARD LANDING RESULTED IN SUSBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO ACFT.  RT WING DEFORMED FROM WING ROOT TO WING TIP, LANDING GEAR STRUT SEPARATED SKIN ON UPPER SURFACE OF WING.  AILERONS JAMMED BY DISTORTION OF WING.  RIGHT MAIN GEAR WHEEL WELL DEFORMED, WITH SKIN TORN.  LEFT WING INBOARD LOWER SURFACE SHOWS SOME SIGNS OF OVERSTRESSING (RIPPLING).  WEATHER AT THE TIME OF LANDING INCLUDED LIGHT FREEZING RAIN.  AIRMET FORECAST ICING IN CLOUDS AND IN PRECIPITATION AREA OF FLIGHT.  TERMINAL FORECAST CALLED FOR MIXED PRECIPITATION. (.4) THE PILOT DEPARTED IN VMC CONDITIONS TOWARDS THE DESTINATION AIRPORT.  AS THE FLIGHT PROGRESSED, THE CLOUD BASE BEGAN TO LOWER AND THE VISIBILITY DECREASED.  UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR, THE PILOT OBTAINED AN IFR CLEARANCE AND WAS TOLD TO CLIMB TO 2,000, THEN TO 4,000 FEET.  WHILE CLIMBING FROM 2,000 FEET TO 4,000 FEET, ICE ACCUMULATION WAS NOTICED ON THE WINDSHIELD OF THE AIRPLANE.  LEVEL AT 4,000 FEET, THE ICE ACCUMULATION CONTINUED AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BACK TO 2,000 FEET WHERE ICE NO LONGER WAS ACCUMULATED.  ON APPROACH, AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED THROUGH A CLOUD LAYER ABOUT  500 FEET FROM THE GROUND, THE ICE BEGAN TO SHED FROM THE AIRPLANE. DUE TO ICE REMAINING ON THE WINDSHIELD THE PILOT HAD DIFFICULTY JUDGING THE DISTANCE TO THE RUNWAY AND HAD TO LOOK THROUGH THE SIDE WINDOW OF THE AIRPLANE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY HARD, AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR PUSHED UP THROUGH THE WINGS.  RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM FSS.  AN AIRMET WAS ISSUED FOR LIGHT OCCASIONAL MODERATE RIME AND MIXED ICING IN CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION BELOW 22,000 FEET ALONG THE PILOT'S ROUTE OF FLIGHT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC99LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA073), Mar 9, 1999: Piper PA-32R-300 (N5454F), Richmond, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation which resulted in flight into icing weather conditions. A factor related to the accident was restricted visibility through the icy windshield…

## Other reports on N5454F (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19951222046649I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951222046649I), Dec 22, 1995: Piper PA32R300 (N5454F), Santa Barbara, CA, Minor damage. Narrative: while enroute aircraft suffered electrical system malfunction which caused minor fire and smoke in cabin. PIC notified approach control of emergency…
- [Incident 19780814037189I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780814037189I), Aug 14, 1978: Piper PA28/ (N5454F), Richmond, VA. Pilot increased altitude without clearance.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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