# NTSB ATL94LA146: Swearingen SA-26AT, N802DJ, Greenville, SC, June 21, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 21, 1994, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Greenville, SC
- Coordinates: 34.770587, -82.379066 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7706&lon=-82.3791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3424
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3424/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA146

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING, RESULTING 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)

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED A PRACTICE ILS APPROACH IN VFR CONDITIONS. DURING THE FLARE, HIS POWER REDUCTION WAS EXCESSIVE, AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS RESULTED.

## Factual narrative

On June 21, 1994, at 0900 eastern daylight time, a Swearingen SA-26AT, N802DJ, landed hard at the Donaldson Center in Greenville, South Carolina. The aircraft had substantial damage, and the pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight originated in Spartanburg, South Carolina at 0800.

The pilot was flying the newly-acquired aircraft to accumulate time for insurance purposes. While landing at the Donaldson Center, the aircraft landed hard. The pilot stated that during the landing, everything seemed normal until the aircraft was crossing the runway end, just prior to touchdown. Engine power was reduced, and "Evidently this power reduction, inadvertently, exceeded the limit where N802DJ could remain flying and a harder than normal landing was effected."

The accident was reported late because the pilot did not realize that the aircraft damage was substantial. Structural damage to the wings was discovered when the aircraft was being repaired.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N802DJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N802DJ-1995-03-28), registration cancelled 1995-03-28, S/N T26117 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-26AT
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA-26AT](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa-26at) (registry code 8780112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T26-117
- Airframe hours: 8781
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-1-151 665 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Spartan Fleet Management, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 14, 1994, 15 hours before
- Departed: SPA, SPARTANBURG, SC
- Airport: 7A1, Donaldson Center, runway 4, 8,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,717 total, 34 in this make and model, 1,717 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19940621027289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940621027289A), Jun 21, 1994: Swrngn SA26AT, Greenville, SC, Substantial damage. Reduced power too soon caused dropout and hard landing. Structural damage to wings resulted.

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.

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