# NTSB DFW06CA153: Piper PA-23-250, N950RM, Mena, AR, June 2, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 2, 2006, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Mena, AR - Coordinates: 34.545276, -94.202774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5453&lon=-94.2028&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Little Rock, Arkansas - NTSB case key (mKey): 63855 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63855/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA153 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare resulting in a hard landing and his improper recovery procedures for 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 - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis While executing a visual approach to runway 35, the 7,600-hour private pilot confirmed that the landing gear was extended. The pilot reported, that immediately after touching down on the 5,000-foot long, by 75-foot wide asphalt runway, he noticed a lower than usual nose attitude and applied aft pressure on the yoke which resulted in the airplane becoming airborne. The pilot added that "upon settling back onto the runway" the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane veered to the left. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who examined the twin-engine airplane, the pilot "made a hard nose wheel landing which caused the airplane to bounce back into the air." The FAA inspector added that, "Upon another hard landing the nose wheel blew out and the left main gear collapsed." The pilot reported having accumulated approximately 300 hours in the same and model aircraft. The wind at the time of the mishap was reported as light and variable. ## Factual narrative While executing a visual approach to runway 35, the 7,600-hour private pilot confirmed that the landing gear was extended. The pilot reported, that immediately after touching down on the 5,000-foot long, by 75-foot wide asphalt runway, he noticed a lower than usual nose-down attitude and applied aft pressure on the yoke, which resulted in the airplane becoming airborne. The pilot added that "upon settling back onto the runway" the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane veered to the left. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who examined the twin-engine airplane, the pilot "made a hard nose wheel landing which caused the airplane to bounce back into the air." The FAA inspector added that, "Upon another hard landing the nose wheel blew out and the left main gear collapsed." The pilot reported having accumulated approximately 300 hours in the same and model aircraft. The wind at the time of the mishap was reported as light and variable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N950RM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N950RM-2007-09-24), registration cancelled 2007-09-24, S/N 27-4781, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-4781 - Airframe hours: 3608 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-CIA 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ken McRee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2005 - Departed: Q26, Brownfield, TX - Destination: MEZ, Mena, AR - Airport: MEZ, Mena Intermountain Municipal, runway 35, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 7,600 total, 300 in this make and model, 7,600 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: FSM, 48 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 20060602008159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060602008159A), Jun 2, 2006: Piper PA23250, Mena, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) 6/2/06, 1510 Sdt, clear day, 5-10 knot wind from the north, headwind at Mena ar airport (mez, M39), the pilot [privacy data omitted] made a normal… 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.