# NTSB CEN11CA211: Piper PA-34-220T, N80311, Bogalusa, LA, February 6, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 5, 2011, 18:10 local (Feb 6, 2011, 00:10 UTC)
- Place: Bogalusa, LA
- Coordinates: 30.808055, -89.858886 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8081&lon=-89.8589&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78473
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA211
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78473/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78473
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA211

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate flare after encountering a gust of wind on landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he encountered a gust of wind while attempting to land his twin-engine airplane and subsequently landed hard on the right main landing gear. Examination of the airplane revealed the inboard section of the right wing sustained substantial damage, the landing gear was damaged, and all three blades on the right propeller were curled aft. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the airplane or engine.

## Factual narrative

The pilot encountered a gust of wind while attempting to land his twin engine airplane and subsequently landed hard on the right main landing gear. Examination of the airplane revealed the inboard section of the right wing sustained substantial damage, the landing gear was damaged, and all three blades on the right propeller were curled aft. The pilot reported that there were no premishap mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and engine.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80311](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80311-2016-02-19), registration cancelled 2016-02-19, S/N 34-8233056, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-220T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSI0-470-B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsi0-470-b) (registry code 17029, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8233056
- Engines: CONT MOTOR TSI0-470-B 260 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSI0-470-B 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sepights Charles R
- Registered owner: Sepights Charles R
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: AUS, Austin, TX
- Destination: BXA, Bogalusa, LA
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: BXA, Bogalusa, runway 36

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,021 total, 451 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20110205001949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110205001949A), Feb 5, 2011: Piper PA-34-220T, New Orleans, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot flying from austin TX. To bogalusa la. Landing in bogalusa pilot reported he was hit by a gust of wind, aircraft lifed up and than dropped down hard.…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78473. 535 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 535 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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