# NTSB ATL06CA040: Piper PA-31-350, N3581C, Burlington, NC, February 1, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 1, 2006, 09:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Burlington, NC - Coordinates: 36.048332, -79.474723 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0483&lon=-79.4747&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO 05 Greensboro - NTSB case key (mKey): 63181 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06CA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63181/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA040 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of altitude/distance which resulted in an undershoot of the runway and subsequent impact with the runway collapsing the main landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - other - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot stated that he entered a left downwind for runway 06 and extended his downwind due to another airplane being on left base for the same runway. He turned final and made several s-turns while waiting on the other airplane to clear the runway. Once the other airplane cleared the runway the pilot stated, "I lined up with the runway 06 and flared to land. My main landing gear struck the end of the pavement and sheared the left main gear." The pilot did not report any mechanical problems before the accident. ## Factual narrative On February 1, 2006, at 0940 eastern standard time a Piper PA-31-350, N3581C, registered to and operated by Labcorp, Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 corporate flight, collapsed the left main landing gear during landing at the Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport, Burlington, North Carolina. The airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed. The Airline Transport Pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Manassas Regional Davis Airport, Manassas, Virginia on February 1, 2006, at 0840. The pilot stated he entered a left downwind for runway 06 and extended his downwind due to another airplane being on left base for the same runway. He turned final and made several s-turns while waiting on the other airplane to clear the runway. Once the other airplane cleared the runway the pilot stated, "I lined up with the runway 06 and flared to land. My main landing gear struck the end of the pavement and sheared the left main gear." The pilot did not report any mechanical problems before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3581C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3581C-2006-06-23), registration cancelled 2006-06-23, S/N 31-8052091, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (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: 31-8052091 - Airframe hours: 23432.4 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-J28D 350 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TIO-540-J28D 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Labcorp - Registered owner: LabCorp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2005, 76 hours before - Departed: KHEF, Manassas, VA - Destination: KBUY, Burlington, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KBUY, Burlington-Alamance Regional, runway 06, 5,000 × 120 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 12,360 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KBUY ## 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 20060201000889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060201000889A), Feb 1, 2006: Piper PA31350, Burlington, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot landed short of runway. Main gear hit front edge of runway causing substantial damage to aircraft. 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.