# Accident 20081201856999A: Piper PA32R300, Middletown, DE, December 1, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 1, 2008, 16:50 local time
- Place: Middletown, DE
- Airport: Summit
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.5192° N, 75.7208° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5192&lon=-75.7208&mi=10
- Aircraft: N276, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N276-2012-10-18) (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
- Reported engine: LYC IO540K1A5D
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,550 total, 150 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09CA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA217) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081201856999A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  ON DECEMBER 1, 2008, AT APPROXIMATELY 16:50 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-32R-300, N276, OWNED BY RBF MANAGEMENT COMPANY, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE ON IMPACT WITH RUNWAY DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND ON RUNWAY 35 AT SUMMIT AIRPORT (KEVY), DELAWARE.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY (KSMQ), AT APPROXIMATELY 15:50 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, FOR A 1 HOUR VFR FLIGHT WITH TWO PASSENGERS TO SUMMIT, DELAWARE (KEVY).  THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DIRECT CROSSWIND AND HE ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AGL.  THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE RIGHT SEAT.  THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND RESULTED IN THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ON BOTH SIDES BEING DRIVEN UP THROUGH THE WINGS AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSING.  THE FUSELAGE AND PROPELLER IMPACTED THE GROUND AND RIGHT WING RECEIVED MAJOR DAMAGE AS EVIDENCE BY BENDING OF THE AFT SPAR. THE OBSERVED WEATHER AT THE CLOSET WEATHER REPORTING STATION (ILG) WAS:  1. WIND DIRECTION 220 DEGREES AT 13 MPH GUSTING TO 23 MPH AT 1551 EST.  2. WIND DIRECTION 280 DEGREES AT 18 MPH GUSTING TO 34 MPH AT 1649 EST.  3. WIND DIRECTION 280 DEGREES AT 17 MPH GUSTING TO 34 MPH AT 1651.  WIND DIRECTION 280 DEGREES AT 15 MPH GUSTING TO 25 MPH AT 1658 EST.  THE PILOT HELD A COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH SINGLE, MULTIENGINE LAND AND INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE RATINGS.  THE PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 2550 HOURS AND OVER 150 IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL.  THE ACCIDENT PILOT DID NOT REPORT THIS TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD OR THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION.  THIS INFORMATION WAS FIRST RECEIVED ON MARCH 6, 2009 BY THE BALTIMORE FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE THROUGH A CONVERSATION WITH THE ACCIDENT PILOT FOR RENEWAL OF AN INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION.  THE PHILADELPHIA FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE WAS ASSIGNED THE INVESTIGATION ON MARCH 11, 2009 DUE TO THE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT.  AFTER CONFIRMATION THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CONSIDERED SUBSTANTIAL; ALL INFORMATION WAS REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD ON MARCH 25, 2009.

## 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 ERA09CA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA217), Dec 1, 2008: Piper PA-32R-300 (N276), Middletown, DE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing in gusty conditions.

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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