# NTSB CHI97LA206: Piper PA-34-200, N56676, Mackinac Island, MI, July 5, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 1997, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Mackinac Island, MI - Coordinates: 45.849132, -84.619583 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8491&lon=-84.6196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10626 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10626/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA206 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing. Turbulence on short final was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said that on short final approach, the airplane encountered turbulence and that he held the airplane off the runway to allow airspeed to decrease. The airplane then bounced one time and landed hard. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 1997, at 1200 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200, N56676, received substantial damage during a hard landing on runway 26 (3,501' x 75' dry/asphalt) on Mackinac Island, Michigan. The private pilot told police he encountered windshear during the landing. The pilot and four passengers reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Jenison, Michigan, at 1030. The pilot said that the airplane encountered a "few bumps" on final approach. He said that he found the airplane was high over the runway; that he held the nose up and allowed the airspeed to decrease. He said that the airplane bounced once and then came down with a loud bang. An examination of the airplane subsequent to the accident failed to reveal any preexisting anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56676](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56676), registered now, S/N 34-7450020, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7450020 - Airframe hours: 6000 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James A. Dykstra - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 1997, 15 hours before - Departed: 08C, JENISON, MI - Destination: MCD - Airport: MCD, Mackinac Island, runway 26, 3,501 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 488 total, 48 in this make and model, 363 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19970705017679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970705017679A), Jul 5, 1997: Piper PA34200, Mackinac Island, MI, Substantial damage. Aircraft flared high and stalled. (.4)the pilot said that on short final approach, the airplane encountered turbulence and that he held the airplane off the… ## Other investigations on N56676 (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 MIA00LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA023), Nov 8, 1999: Piper PA-34-200 (N56676), Olive Branch, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The private-rated student pilots inadvertent retraction of the main landing gear during a touch-and-go landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructors improper supervision of the… 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.