# NTSB ERA09CA190: Piper PA-42, N28DA, Belmar, NJ, March 9, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 9, 2009, 12:18 local (16:18 UTC) - Place: Belmar, NJ - Coordinates: 40.186943, -74.124725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1869&lon=-74.1247&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73461 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73461/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA190 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard 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-42, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7104202), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-42, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-42, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7104202), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-42, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7104202), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-42, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7104202), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the right seat stated that he was the "flying pilot" at the time of the accident. The flight proceeded normally in instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot made visual contact with the airport between 1 and 2 miles from the airport, and the pilot circled to land on runway 14. When he was between 200 and 300 hundred feet above ground level, he corrected his turn to final with a "slightly aggressive bank angle" while simultaneously reducing power, resulting in an excessive sink rate. He rolled the wings to level and increased power. He was not able to arrest the sink rate before the aircraft impacted the runway. The impact collapsed the left main landing gear and caused the airplane to swerve left. The airplane came to rest approximately 1000 feet beyond the threshold off the left side of the runway. The "flying pilot" had over 133 hours in the make and model of the accident aircraft, 20 hours as pilot in command (PIC), and 3 hours as PIC in the preceding 90 days. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the right seat stated that he was the "flying pilot" at the time of the accident. The flight proceeded normally in instrument meteorological conditions and the VOR-A approach was flown. Visual contact with the airport was made between 1 and 2 miles from the airport, and the pilot circled to land on runway 14. When he was between 200 and 300 hundred feet AGL, he corrected his turn to final with a "slightly aggressive bank angle" while simultaneously reducing power, resulting in an excessive sink rate. He rolled the wings to level and increased power. He was not able to arrest the sink rate before the aircraft impacted the runway. The impact collapsed the left main landing gear and caused the airplane to swerve left. The airplane came to rest approximately 1000 feet beyond the threshold off the left side of the runway. The "flying pilot" had 20 hours in the make and model of the accident aircraft as pilot in command (PIC), with 3 hours being in the preceding 90 days. The nose landing gear, right landing gear, left nacelle, wing and wing control surfaces also sustained damage during the accident sequence as the airplane departed the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28DA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28DA-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N 42-8001078, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-42 - Registry model: [Piper PA-42](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-42) (registry code 7104202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 42-8001078 - Airframe hours: 5637 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-41 720 horsepower turbo prop; P&W CANADA PT6A-41 720 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Hortmont Aviation Services Inc, doing business as On Demand Air Taxi - Registered owner: Hortmont Aviation Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 7, 2009, 1 hours before - Departed: PNE, Philadelphia, PA - Destination: BLM, Belmar, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BLM, Monmouth Executive Airport, runway 14, 7,300 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 3,566 total, 133 in this make and model, 1,786 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days - Other flight crew; age 65; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 7,484 total, 450 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point -8 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BLM ## 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 20090309004149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090309004149A), Mar 9, 2009: Piper PA42, Belmar/Farming, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was performing a vor-a approach to blm. Due to a high bank angle the crew was unable to arrest the descent. The aircraft's LH main gear… 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.