# NTSB CHI08CA140: Piper PA-34-200T, N31982, Sandusky, OH, May 24, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 24, 2008, 17:55 local (21:55 UTC)
- Place: Sandusky, OH
- Coordinates: 41.433334, -82.652221
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4333&lon=-82.6522&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Cleveland, OH, FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68115
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68115/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA140

## Probable cause

The pilot misjudging the flare and not maintaining airspeed during the 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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he and a safety pilot were on a simulated instrument flight rules cross country flight. He said that while on final the airplane "got too slow." During the flare the airplane "quit flying and dropped short" of the prepared runway surface. The pilot reported the airplane landed hard "resulting in damage to aircraft." No mechanical malfunctions were reported reference the flight.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he and a safety pilot were on a simulated instrument flight rules cross country flight. He said that while on final the airplane "got too slow." During the flare the airplane "quit flying and dropped short" of the prepared runway surface. The pilot reported the airplane landed hard "resulting in damage to aircraft." No mechanical malfunctions were reported reference the flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31982](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31982-2010-01-22), registration cancelled 2010-01-22, S/N 34-7870282, built 1978 (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)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7870282
- Airframe hours: 4848
- Engines: Continental LTSIO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Barry L. Hardesty
- Registered owner: Givens Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2008
- Departed: LOU, LOUISVILLE, KY
- Destination: SKY, Sandusky, OH
- Airport: SKY, Griffing Sandusky, runway 9, 3,559 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 371 total, 29 in this make and model, 298 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days
- Other flight crew; injuries: none; foreign, commercial, airline transport, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: right

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: LPR

## 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 20080524838819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080524838819A), May 24, 2008: Piper PA34200T, Sandusky, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated, that "after a missing a practice VOR approach he entered and flew a normal left traffic pattern for runway 09 at ksky. The pilot noted…

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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