# NTSB ERA09CA437: Piper PA-34-200T, N551N, Lincoln Park, NJ, August 2, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 2, 2009, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Lincoln Park, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.947498, -74.314445 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9475&lon=-74.3144&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74427
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA437
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74427/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74427
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA437

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and the subsequent collapse of the landing gear.

## 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-34-200T, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [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-34-200T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that because the runway was wet, he was "determined to touch down as close to the approach end as possible." On landing, the airplane bounced, and the nose and main landing gear subsequently collapsed. The airplane came to rest on the runway, approximately 1,700 feet beyond the landing threshold, and sustained substantial damage. An airport surveillance video camera captured the accident sequence. Review of the video indicated that the airplane first contacted the runway just beyond the displaced threshold, in a flat attitude, with no flare or float. The airplane bounced and re-contacted the runway on its nose landing gear, which then collapsed. This was followed by a series of rapid, large-amplitude pitch oscillations, and collapse of the main gear.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that because the runway was wet, he was "determined to touch down as close to the approach end as possible." On landing, the airplane bounced, and the nose and main landing gear subsequently collapsed. The airplane came to rest on the runway, approximately 1,700 feet beyond the landing threshold, and sustained substantial damage. An airport surveillance video camera captured the accident sequence. Review of the video indicated that the airplane first contacted the runway just beyond the displaced threshold, in a flat attitude, with no flare or float. The airplane bounced and re-contacted the runway on its nose landing gear, which then collapsed. This was followed by a series of rapid, large-amplitude pitch oscillations, and collapse of the main gear.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N551N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N551N-2017-07-06), registration cancelled 2017-07-06, S/N 34-7570197, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7570197
- Airframe hours: 3329
- Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 225 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 17, 2009, 38 hours before
- Departed: MVL, Morrisville, VT
- Destination: N07, Lincoln Park, NJ
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: N07, Lincoln Park Airport, runway 19, 2,942 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 21,682 total, 98 in this make and model, 14,156 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: CDW, 5 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 20090802047979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090802047979A), Aug 2, 2009: Piper PA-34-200T, Lincoln Park, NJ, Substantial damage. On 08/02/09 at approximately 1238 local time, N551N a Piper PA-34-200T, was substantially damaged after its gear collapsed while landing on runway 19 at…

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74427. 3.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318386&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Federal Aviation Administration Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports (item 4, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF
- Photo: Overall View of Damage (Courtesy FAA.) (item 5, .PDF, 328 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318470&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Overall%20View%20of%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20FAA.)-Master.PDF
- Lincoln Park Airport Video (item 6, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318468&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Lincoln%20Park%20Airport%20Video-Master.PDF
- Speed Calculations (item 7, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319291&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Speed%20Calculations-Master.PDF
- Pilot Operating Handbook - Normal Procedures (item 8, .PDF, 477 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319448&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Operating%20Handbook%20-%20Normal%20Procedures-Master.PDF
- Pilot Operating Handbook - Performance Charts (item 9, .PDF, 492 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319449&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Operating%20Handbook%20-%20Performance%20Charts-Master.PDF

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.