# NTSB ERA15CA117: Piper PA-32-301, N42993, Valdosta, GA, February 2, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 2, 2015, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Valdosta, GA - Coordinates: 30.781389, -83.276107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7814&lon=-83.2761&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: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90684 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90684/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90684 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA117 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for gusty wind conditions during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose landing gear collapse. ## 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-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/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-32-301, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103207), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing the airplane in turbulent conditions with gusting wind. He stated that during the landing flare, the airplane encountered an updraft, followed immediately by a downdraft. The airplane subsequently impacted the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Review of archived weather information for the accident airport about the time of the accident revealed variable wind at 9 knots with gusts to 19 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was landing the airplane in turbulent conditions with gusting wind. He stated that during the landing flare, the airplane encountered an updraft, followed immediately by a downdraft. The airplane subsequently impacted the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Review of archived weather information for the accident airport about the time of the accident revealed variable wind at 9 knots with gusts to 19 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42993](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42993), registered now, S/N 32-8306025 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-301 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301) (registry code 7103207) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-8306025 - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 3400 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bc Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Bc Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 15, 2015 - Departed: GPT, Gulfport, MS - Destination: VLD, Valdosta, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: VLD, Valdosta Regional, runway 35, 8,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 16, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 353 total, 100 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 9 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: VLD ## 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 20150202001749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150202001749A), Feb 2, 2015: Piper PA-32-301, Valdosta, GA, Substantial damage. On February 02, 2015 @ approximately 1300 local time the pilot of a Piper PA32-301 was cleared to land at Valdosta Regional Airport. Weather conditions were… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90684. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 984 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record – VLD METARs (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429390&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20VLD%20METARs-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Airplane as it came to rest (Courtesy of pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429391&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Airplane%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20pilot)-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.