# Accident 20010413007339A: Piper PA34200, Hagerstown, MD, April 13, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 13, 2001, 14:30 local time - Place: Hagerstown, MD - Airport: Washington County Regional - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 39.6808° N, 77.6505° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6808&lon=-77.6505&mi=10 - Aircraft: N55134, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-34-200 (registry code 7103405, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA34200 - Reported engine: LYC IO360C1E6 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 25,000 total, 8 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC01LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA097) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010413007339A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23)UPON LANDING ON RUNWAY 27 AT HGR THE PILOT ENCOUNTER A 22 KNOT GUST OF WIND OUT OF 300 AND HARD ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR UPWARD ABOUT 18 INCHES DAMAGING ALL THE STRUCTURE IN THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT UP TO INCLUDE THE UPPER WINDSHIELD FRAME. (.4) THE PILOT REQUESTED AND WAS CLEARED FOR THE ILS RUNWAY 27 APPROACH. WHILE ON FINAL, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED LIGHT TO OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURBULENCE, AND REQUIRED A 30-40 DEGREE DRIFT CORRECTION TO MAINTAIN COURSE. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS 2 MILES FROM THE RUNWAY, THE TOWER CONTROLLER REPORTED THE WIND AS 300 DEGREES AT 18 KNOTS. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE APPROACH AND 100 TO 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND FELT THE CROSSWIND "DRAMATICALLY" SUBSIDE. THE PILOT WAS THEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT WITH NO WIND CORRECTION. THE LANDING PHASE CONTINUED WITHOUT INCIDENT UNTIL THE AIRPLANE WAS 3-5 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT THEN FELT A "SIGNIFICANT AND ABRUPT" BUFFETING OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE "WEATHER-VANED" TO THE RIGHT, ROLLED LEFT, AND STARTED TO DRIFT LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE. THE PILOT APPLIED CORRECTIVE ACTION; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN NOSE WHEEL FIRST, BOUNCED BACK INT O THE AIR, AND THEN TOUCHED DOWN NOSE WHEEL FIRST AGAIN. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE PROPELLERS CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. ## 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 NYC01LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA097), Apr 13, 2001: Piper PA-34-200 (N55134), Hagerstown, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment during the landing phase. A factor in the accident was a sudden change in wind direction and speed. ## Other reports on N55134 (4) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20160116004259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160116004259I), Jan 16, 2016: Piper PA-34-200 (N55134), Brooksville, FL, Minor damage. On January 16, 2016 aircraft was enroute VFR from ktmb to kbkv. On right downwind for runway 21 pilot initiated pre-landing checklist. When landing gear was… - [Incident 20150203000389I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150203000389I), Feb 3, 2015: Piper PA-34-200 (N55134), Kendall, FL, Substantial damage. During / after landing at tamiami airport (tmb) and exit runway 9R at E-3 the student pilot inadvertent select the gear handle to the up position and the… - [Incident 19991109039509I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991109039509I), Nov 9, 1999: Piper PA34200 (N55134), Millington, TN, Minor damage. On November 9, 1999, at approximately 1140AM, (CST), an aircraft (Piper) PA-34-200, N55134, had wheels up landing at the Millington, TN airport (nqa). Upon… - [Incident 19810729060969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810729060969I), Jul 29, 1981: Piper PA34200 (N55134), Anchorage, AK, Minor damage. Za pilot unable to extend nose gear. Landed with nose gear up. Found nose gear links installed incorrectly. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.