# NTSB ERA10CA513: Piper PA34, N56196, Northampton, MA, September 23, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 23, 2010, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Northampton, MA - Coordinates: 42.317779, -72.611663 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3178&lon=-72.6117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77685 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA513 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77685/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77685 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA513 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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-34-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103405), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103405), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that it was his first landing at the accident airport. While in the traffic pattern and on the approach for landing, he stated that he became preoccupied with the terrain surrounding the airport and landed at a higher than normal airspeed. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced. On the second touchdown, the airplane's nose landing gear contacted the runway, the airplane shifted to the right, and the left propeller impacted the runway. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to both wings, and no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane were identified. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that it was his first landing at the accident airport. During the traffic pattern and approach for landing, he was "preoccupied" with the terrain surrounding the airport and landed at a "higher than normal" airspeed. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced. On the second touchdown, the airplane's nose landing gear contacted the runway, the airplane "shifted" to the right, and the left propeller impacted the runway. Postaccident examination by the FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to both wings, and no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane were identified. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56196](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56196-2013-04-22), registration cancelled 2013-04-22, S/N 347350301, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA34 (200) - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7350301 - Airframe hours: 6678 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Louis Fly Academy Ltd - Registered owner: Louis Fly Academy Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: EEN, Keene, NH - Destination: FRG, Farmingdale, NY - Airport: 7B2, Northampton Airport, runway 32, 3,365 × 50 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 5, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 499 total, 76 in this make and model, 418 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: CEF, 9 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 20100923049829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100923049829A), Sep 23, 2010: Piper PA-34-200, Northampton, MA, Substantial damage. The accident that occurred on September 23, 2010, was not reported to this FSDO until October 6, 2010 at which time it was initially classified as an incident.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 11, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77685. 791 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 600 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-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.