# NTSB ATL03LA053: Piper PA-32R-300, N4135Q, Rogersville, TN, March 4, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 2003, 17:35 local (22:35 UTC) - Place: Rogersville, TN - Coordinates: 36.4575, -82.885002 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4575&lon=-82.8850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Nashville FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56577 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56577/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA053 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to practice flight maneuvers for an upcoming commercial check ride. While practicing a power-off 180-degree precision landing to runway 25, the landing gear collapsed during touchdown. The airplane skidded about 300 feet on the runway surface and continued off the left side of the runway into the grass. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane prior to the landing. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 2003, at 1735 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N4135Q, registered to Sky crafters Inc., and operated by a private pilot, collided with the runway during an attempted landing and the landing gear collapsed on runway 25 at the Hawkins County Airport in Rogersville, Tennessee. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The flight departed Tri Cities Regional Airport in Bristol, Tennessee, at 1640 on March 4, 2003. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to practice flight maneuvers for an upcoming commercial check ride. While practicing a power-off 180-degree precision landing to runway 25, the landing gear collapsed during touchdown. During the pilot's first attempt to practice this maneuver, he was high and executed a go-around. The second attempt at pattern altitude, when abeam his touchdown point he reduced the power to idle and began the maneuver again. The pilot turned towards the runway, extended the landing gear, and advanced the propeller lever to full forward position. As the pilot turned final, he overshot the runway centerline and made corrections to align the airplane. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane over the runway to land, the airplane settled hard onto the runway surface, and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid down the runway approximately 300 feet and then into the grass on the left side of the runway for another 150 feet before coming to a stop. Examination of the airplane revealed propeller, left and right wing, and landing gear damage. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane before the accident. The post-accident examination of the airplane also failed to disclose a mechanical problem. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4135Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4135Q), registered now, S/N 32R-7780329, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7780329 - Airframe hours: 6612.7 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Greg Oestreich - Registered owner: Skycrafters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2002, 99.7 hours before - Departed: TRI, Bristol, TN - Destination: RVN, Rogersville, TN - Airport: RVN, Hawkins County, runway 25, 3,502 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 12, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 392 total, 34 in this make and model, 337 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: TRI, 120 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030304014009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030304014009A), Mar 4, 2003: Piper PA32R300, Rogersville, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) Interview with the pilot immediately following the accident reveals the following: pilot was practicing 180 degree course reversals from pattern altitude… 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. --- 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.