# NTSB DEN89LA100: Piper PA-34-220T, N83864, Cheyenne, WY, April 5, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 5, 1989, 05:40 local (11:40 UTC)
- Place: Cheyenne, WY
- Coordinates: 41.369518, -104.849563 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3695&lon=-104.8496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17692
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17692/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA100

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - night
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER 14 CFR 135 ON A NIGHT CARGO FLT. THE PLT APPROACHED THE ARPT FROM THE SOUTH AND DECIDED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 26. HE ACTIVATED THE PLT CONTROLLED RUNWAY LIGHTS TO THE HIGHEST INTENSITY. THE PLT RETARDED THE THROTTLES OVER THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED A SECOND TIME AND TWO OF THE THREE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED ON TOUCHDOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83864](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83864-2002-12-30), registration cancelled 2002-12-30, S/N 34-8133091 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 348133091
- Airframe hours: 2955
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360B 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Sky Harbor Air Svc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 24, 1989, 66 hours before
- Departed: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Destination: CYS
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: CYS, Cheyenne Municipal, runway 26, 9,200 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,513 total, 142 in this make and model, 1,114 as pilot in command, 170 in the last 90 days, 82 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 1
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CYS

## 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 19890405006149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890405006149A), Apr 5, 1989: Piper PA34220T, Cheyenne, WY, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised on a night landing until a main gear collapsed from overstress.

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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