# NTSB BFO94LA070: Piper PA-32R-300, N4445X, Bedford, PA, April 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 18, 1994, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Bedford, PA - Coordinates: 40.010803, -78.499237 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0108&lon=-78.4992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8913 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8913/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA070 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNDERSHOOT OF THE RUNWAY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis During final approach, the airplane touched down about five feet short of the runway. The pilot reported that during final approach, about 30 to 40 feet above the ground, a high rate of descent occurred. He stated that he initiated a go around, but the left main gear touched down. The pilot stated that once the gear made contact with the ground, he decided to land the airplane. He stated that the airplane bounced up on the runway and landed hard pushing the left main gear aft and through the fuselage. The airplane skid to the left and departed the runway. ## Factual narrative On Monday, April 18, 1994, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N4445X, landed short of runway 21 at the Bedford Airport located in Bedford, Pennsylvania, and was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The business cross country flight originated from the Garrett County Airport, Garrett County, Maryland, and was destined for the Bedford Airport. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he entered the downwind leg of the airport's left traffic pattern. He stated that when he turned the airplane onto the base leg, the airplane was "...too close and too high." He said he completed a 270 degrees right turn "...which put us on about a 3/4 mile final at approximately 700 feet AGL." The pilot stated, "From this point the approach to land was completed as usual until approximately 30 - 40 feet AGL, when a higher than normal rate of descent occurred. Go around procedures were initiated just prior to the left main touching down. When this happened [the left main gear touching down], the mixture, throttle, and master switch were cut, and the landing finished." According to a Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector, the pilot reported after the accident that during approach to the runway, the airplane encountered a downdraft. The pilot said that the airplane touched down short of the runway and then bounced up onto the runway and landed hard, pushing the left main gear aft and through the fuselage. The pilot stated that the airplane skidded to the left and the left wing impacted a runway light knocking a hole in the fuel tank. During an interview, the pilot stated that "...the flaps were down 2 notches..." during the approach. He stated that he retracted the flaps after the airplane came to rest so he and his passenger could exit the airplane. The accident site and airplane were examined on April 18, 1994. Examination of the accident site revealed ground marks about five feet short of the approach end of the runway. The airplane came to rest off the left side of the runway, in grass about 1,000 feet left of the ground marks. The left main gear was found two hundred feet northeast of the approach end of the runway. The airplane's left wing, landing gear, fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and horizontal stabilizer were damaged. At the time of the accident, the Altoona, Pennsylvania, National Weather Service Station reported the winds were coming from a magnetic bearing of 250 degrees at a velocity of 10 knots. An airman's meteorological information (airmet) report was issued for Eastern Pennsylvania. The airmet reported moderate to severe turbulence below 9,000 feet mean sea level. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4445X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4445X), registered now, S/N 32R-7680017, built 1975 (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: 7680017 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Wnt Leasing Co. - Registered owner: Wnt Leasing Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1993, 117 hours before - Departed: 2G4, OAKLAND, MD - Airport: 4G9, Bedford Airport, runway 21, 2,041 × 39 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 583 total, 270 in this make and model, 418 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AOO, 30 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 19940418008279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940418008279A), Apr 18, 1994: Piper PA32R300, Bedford, PA, Substantial damage. Landed hard five feet short of runway bounced came down off runway. Left main gear found 200 ft from wreckage. 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.