# NTSB ERA14CA376: Piper PA 34-220T, N212RW, Gulf Shores, AL, August 6, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 6, 2014, 10:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place: Gulf Shores, AL
- Coordinates: 30.287221, -87.668334 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2872&lon=-87.6683&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89811
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA376
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89811/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89811
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA376

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent loss of aircraft control.

## 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-34-220T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 1,287 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-34-220T, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 9,308 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-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 5,010 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, the approach looked "normal;" however, the airplane impacted the runway nose-landing-gear first and bounced on landing. He advanced the power levers on both engines and the airplane immediately turned to the left, impacted the ground with the left wing, pivoted approximately 270 degrees, and came to rest. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose, fuselage, left wing, and all three landing gear. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded weather at the accident airport, around the time of the accident, indicated calm wind.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, the approach looked "normal;" however, the airplane impacted the runway nose-landing-gear first and bounced on landing. He advanced the power levers on both engines and the airplane immediately turned to the left, impacted the ground with the left wing, pivoted approximately 270 degrees, and came to rest. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose, fuselage, left wing, and all three landing gear. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded weather at the accident airport, around the time of the accident, indicated calm wind.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N212RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N212RW-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 34-8133138, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 34-220T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8133138
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 5775
- Engines: CONT MOTOR LTSIO-360-KB 220 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 KB 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2014, 4 hours before
- Departed: M02, Dickson, TN
- Destination: JKA, Gulf Shores, AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JKA, Jack Edwards, runway 27, 6,962 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 4, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,888 total, 655 in this make and model, 1,760 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KJKA

## 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 20140806015059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140806015059A), Aug 6, 2014: Piper PA-34-220T, Gulf Shores, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot states that his approach to runway 27 at kjka was normal. As pilot began his flare, his nose wheel hit first, causing the aircraft to bounce into the air…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89811. 7.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415739&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record – Telephone Interview with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415740&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector’s Statements (item 3, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415741&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%E2%80%99s%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- Aircraft Maintenance Records (item 4, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415742&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record – Gulf Shores Weather (item 5, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415743&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Gulf%20Shores%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – View of Main Wreckage From Left (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415744&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20From%20Left%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-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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