# NTSB BFO95LA035: Piper PA-34-200T, N79TH, Middle River, MD, March 19, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 1995, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Middle River, MD - Coordinates: 39.33036, -76.429313 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3304&lon=-76.4293&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9031 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9031/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA035 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the nosegear collapsing. The pilot's improper landing flare was a factor in the accident. ## 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 (contributing factor) - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis THE PILOT STATE HE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 15 WHEN THE AIRPLANE PORPOISED AND TOUCHED DOWN HARD, AND THE NOSEGEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On March 19, 1995, at 1445 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-34- 200T, N79TH, piloted by the co-owner/operator, sustained substantial damage when the nosegear collapsed during landing at Martin State Airport, Baltimore, Maryland. The pilot and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot reported that the nosegear buckled after a hard landing on runway 15, and that he taxied off the runway to the ramp without the nosegear. He also reported that there was no mechanical malfunction. According to Federal Aviation Personnel, the pilot was landing on runway 15 when the airplane porpoised and touched down hard collapsing the nosegear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N79TH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79TH-1998-03-25), registration cancelled 1998-03-25, S/N 347970157 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7970157 - Airframe hours: 2270 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-EB 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kent Huber - Registered owner: S & K Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 4, 1995, 95 hours before - Departed: GSO, GREENSBORO, NC - Destination: MTN, BALTIMORE, MD - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MTN, Martin State, runway 15, 6,996 × 180 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,703 total, 270 in this make and model, 1,638 as pilot in command, 142 in the last 90 days, 72 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MTN ## 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 19950319049469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950319049469A), Mar 19, 1995: Piper PA34200T, Middleriver, MD, Substantial damage. (-16) Upon landing on rwy 15 at martin state airport, aircraft porpoised @ 3 times before nose gear collapsed after contacting the ground. ## Other investigations on N79TH (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 CHI98FA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98FA031), Nov 2, 1997: Piper PA-34-200T (N79TH), Lynn, IN, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in the inflight separation of the wings, vertical stabilizer/rudder, and the stabilator. Factors associated with the accident… 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.