# NTSB ERA13CA357: Piper PA-34-200T, N75131, West Mifflin, PA, August 4, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 4, 2013, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: West Mifflin, PA
- Coordinates: 40.354442, -79.930274 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3544&lon=-79.9303&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 February 13, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87715
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA357
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87715/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87715
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA357

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing 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 · Not attained/maintained (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)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot he encountered turbulence and gusting winds at his destination airport. During his landing attempt, the airplane landed hard on the nose gear, resulting in substantial damage to the forward bulkhead. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the weather revealed winds from 340 degrees at 7 knots with no gusts.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot he encountered turbulence and gusting winds at his destination airport. During his landing attempt, the airplane landed hard on the nose gear, resulting in substantial damage to the forward bulkhead. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the weather revealed winds from 340 degrees at 7 knots with no gusts.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75131](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75131-2018-03-07), registration cancelled 2018-03-07, S/N 34-7670225, built 1976 (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: 34-7670225
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 3200
- Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 225 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hightail LLC
- Registered owner: Hightail LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2012
- Departed: FLD, Fond du Lac, WI
- Destination: AGC, West Mifflin, PA
- Airport: AGC, Allegheny County Airport, runway 31, 3,825 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 700 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: AGC

## 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 20130804017039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130804017039A), Aug 4, 2013: Piper PA-34-200T, West Mifflin, PA, Substantial damage. Nosegear collapsed after landing on runway 31.

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87715. 7.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 508 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401278&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Reports from Federal Agencies-FAA inspector statement (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405915&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-FAA%20inspector%20statement-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1-Courtesy of FAA-View of landing gear assembly protruding from windscreen (item 3, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-Courtesy%20of%20FAA-View%20of%20landing%20gear%20assembly%20protruding%20from%20windscreen-Master.PDF
- Photo 2-Courtesy of FAA-View of landing gear assembly and buckled forward bulkhead (item 4, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-Courtesy%20of%20FAA-View%20of%20landing%20gear%20assembly%20and%20buckled%20forward%20bulkhead-Master.PDF
- Photo 3-Courtesy of FAA-View of nose wheel collapsed in wheel well (item 5, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203-Courtesy%20of%20FAA-View%20of%20nose%20wheel%20collapsed%20in%20wheel%20well-Master.PDF
- Photo 4-Courtesy of FAA-View of inside baggage compartment showing damaged forward bulkhead and nose trunnion (item 6, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406058&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204-Courtesy%20of%20FAA-View%20of%20inside%20baggage%20compartment%20showing%20damaged%20forward%20bulkhead%20and%20nose%20trunnion%20-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.

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