# NTSB CEN19TA327: Piper PA60, N1R, Tulsa, OK, September 2, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report
- Date: September 2, 2019, 10:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place: Tulsa, OK
- Coordinates: 36.198333, -95.888053 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1983&lon=-95.8881&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100308
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19TA327
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100308/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100308
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19TA327

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and hard landing.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot reported that he flew a normal approach; however, he initiated the landing flare too high. The airplane subsequently stalled and dropped about 10 ft, which caused the nose landing gear to collapse and damaged the forward pressure bulkhead. The pilot stated that he had verified that the landing gear were down and locked before landing, and reported that the accident was "not caused by any apparent mechanical failures."

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 2019, about 1020 central daylight time, a Piper PA-60 Aerostar airplane, N1R, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on runway 36L at Tulsa International Airport (TUL), Tulsa, Oklahoma. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The nose landing gear collapsed which resulted in damage to the forward pressure bulkhead. The airplane was registered to CBU Aviation LLC and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the airport, and the flight was operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Rogers Executive Airport (ROG), Rogers, Arkansas, about 0945 and was destined for TUL. The pilot reported flying a normal approach to runway 36L; however, he initiated the landing flare too high. The airplane subsequently stalled and dropped about 10 ft which caused the nose landing gear to collapse. The airplane came to rest on an adjacent taxiway. He had verified that the landing gear was down and locked (three green indicator panel lights) before landing. He stated the accident was "not caused by any apparent mechanical failures."

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA60 (602P)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 60-8265043
- Year built: 1982
- Airframe hours: 3571.2
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-U2A 350 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TIO-540-U2A 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2019
- Departed: ROG, Rogers, AR
- Destination: TUL, Tulsa, OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TUL, Tulsa International, runway 36L, 6,101 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 6, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,300 total, 500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: TUL, 1 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 20190902017999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190902017999A), Sep 2, 2019: Piper PA-60-602P, Tulsa, OK, Substantial damage. On September 2nd the airman was cleared to land rwy 36L. On touchdown the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft slid to a stop and remained on the runway.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 10, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100308. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476716&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476717&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Maintenance Records - Annual Inspection (item 3, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476718&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20-%20Annual%20Inspection-Master.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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