# NTSB ERA09CA217: Piper PA-32R-300, N276, Middletown, DE, December 1, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 1, 2008, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Middletown, DE - Coordinates: 39.519165, -75.720832 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5192&lon=-75.7208&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 14, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73556 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73556/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA217 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing in gusty conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane was on short final approach for landing on runway 35, when he experienced a "sudden loss of airspeed and rapid increase in descent rate that was not altered by the application of power." The airplane landed hard on the runway, all three landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid off the left side of the runway. The wing spar and engine firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot further stated that he was flying from the right seat, which made referencing the instruments more difficult, and he "encountered windshear." The winds at an airport located 10 miles northeast of the accident airport, about the time of the accident, were recorded as 280 degrees at 17 knots, with gusts to 34 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the airplane was on short final approach for landing on runway 35 when he experienced a "sudden loss of airspeed and rapid increase in descent rate that was not altered by the application of power." The airplane landed hard on the runway, all three landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid off the left side of the runway. The wing spar and engine firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot further stated that he was flying from the right seat, which made referencing the instruments more difficult, and he "encountered windshear." The winds at an airport located 10 miles northeast of the accident airport, about the time of the accident, that were recorded as 280 degrees at 17 knots, with gusts to 34 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N276](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N276-2012-10-18), registration cancelled 2012-10-18, S/N 32R-7680095, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (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: 32R-7680095 - Airframe hours: 3328 - Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Rbf Management Co - Registered owner: Rbf Management Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 2008 - Departed: SMQ, Somerset, NJ - Destination: EVY, Middletown, DE - Airport: EVY, Summit Airport, runway 35, 4,488 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 2,267 total, 155 in this make and model, 47 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 17 knots, gusting 34 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: ILG, 10 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 20081201856999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081201856999A), Dec 1, 2008: Piper PA32R300, Middletown, DE, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 1, 2008, at approximately 16:50 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N276, owned by rbf management company, received substantial damage… 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.