# Accident 19990316002529A: Piper PA44180, Prescott, AZ, March 16, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 16, 1999, 18:31 local time
- Place: Prescott, AZ
- Airport: Ernest A Love Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.6206° N, 112.4204° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6206&lon=-112.4204&mi=10
- Aircraft: N106BM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N106BM-2014-09-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-44-180 (registry code 7104402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA44180
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 475 total, 6 in this make and model, 110 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA100) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990316002529A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON MARCH 16, 1999, ABOUT 1831 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-44-180, N106BM, OWNED AND OPERATED BY CUSTOM PILOT SERVICES, PRESCOTT, ARIZONA, MADE A HARD LANDING ON RUNWAY 12 AT THE ERNEST A. LOVE FIELD, PRESCOTT, ARIZONA. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, TRAVERSED A DRAINAGE DITCH AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NEITHER THE COMMERCIAL PILOT NOR PASSENGER WAS INJURED. RESPONDING FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE RUNWAY SURFACE WAS WET. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT PERFORMED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM PRESCOTT ABOUT 1757. THE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED ITS LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND THE NOSE GEAR WERE COLLAPSED. ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE WAS OBSERVED. THE PRESCOTT BASED OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT WAS EMPLOYED FULL-TIME AS A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. HE HAD FLOWN THE AIRPLANE TO INCREASE HIS MULTIENGINE FLIGHT EXPERIERNCE. POLICE OFFICIALS REPORTED FINDING A NOTE, WRITTEN BY THE PILOT, WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE NOTE STATED THE FOLLOWING: "NTSB, LACK OF CROSSWIND     CORRECTION, TAILWIND, HYDROPLANING, FAILURE TO TIMELY GO AROUND." (.4)GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FLARE OUT HIGH, THEN TOUCH DOWN HARD; IT DID NOT BOUNCE.  THE AIRPLANE INITIALLY ROLLED DOWN THE RUNWAY.  THEN, IT VEERED RIGHT AND ROLLED OVER A CULVERT, COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND THE NOSE GEAR.  ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE ALSO OCCURRED TO THE AIRFRAME.  THE PILOT REPORTED TO A RESPONDING AIRPORT EMPLOYEE THAT THE RUNWAY WAS 'SLICK.'  AT THE TIME, THE RUNWAY WAS WET DUE TO LIGHT RAIN, NO STANDING WATER WAS PRESENT, AND THE WIND WAS FROM 220 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS.  IN A WRITTEN NOTE ADDRESSED TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD THE PILOT STATED THE FOLLOWING:  'NTSB, LACK OF CROSSWIND CORRECTION, TAILWIND, HYDROPLANING, FAILURE TO TIMELY GO AROUND.'  THE PILOT WAS EMPLOYED AS A FULL-TIME FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.  FOUR DAYS EARLIER HE HAD PASSED A FLIGHT CHECK FOR THE MULTIENGINE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S CERTIFICATE. HIS TOTAL MULTIENGINE FLYING EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 60 AND 6 HOURS, RESPECTIVELY.                                                (-23)AFTER ACCIDENT WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATED A HARD LANDING AND LOSS OF          CONTROL, AIRCRAFT WENT OFF RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT.

## 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 LAX99LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA100), Mar 17, 1999: Piper PA-44-180 (N106BM), Prescott, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged landing flare resulting in a hard touchdown, and, his failure to adequately compensate for the existing crosswind condition and to maintain directional control during rollout on…

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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