# NTSB CHI85LA080: Piper Aerostar 600, N8060J, Kalamazoo, MI, December 27, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1984, 22:00 local (Dec 27, 1984, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Kalamazoo, MI
- Location: 42.2344° N, 85.5516° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at KALAMAZOO/BATTLE CREEK INTL (AZO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2344&lon=-85.5516&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12980
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85LA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12980/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA080

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT CONTACTED A PATCH OF ICE CAUSING IT TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS RESULTING IN A LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSE. ATC TWR WITNESSES STATED THE ACFT APPEARED FAST ON FINAL AND A HARD LANDING WAS MADE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8060J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8060J-1992-06-15), registration cancelled 1992-06-15, S/N 600543175 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER AEROSTAR 600 (AEROSTAR 6)
- Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-600) (registry code 7106001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 60-0543
- Airframe hours: 1600
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1F5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Federal Armored Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BEH, BENTON HARBOR, MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AZO, Kalamazoo, runway 17, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,804 total, 1,224 in this make and model, 2,661 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 130° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AZO

## 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 19841226070499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841226070499A), Dec 26, 1984: Piper PA60600, Kalamazoo, MI, Substantial damage. Left main gear collapsed after hard landing and sliding sideways on runway. Ice patches on runway.

## Other investigations on N8060J (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 CHI90FA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90FA190), Jul 23, 1990: Piper PA-60-600 (N8060J), Plymouth, MI, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT OF THE PA-60. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT NEITHER OF THE FLIGHT CREWS HAD OBATAINED ATC/RADAR ASSISTANCE.

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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