# NTSB FTW87LA036: Piper PA-34-220T, N8456X, Lubbock, TX, December 20, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1986, 16:09 local (22:09 UTC)
- Place: Lubbock, TX
- Coordinates: 33.590423, -101.849586 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5904&lon=-101.8496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22311
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87LA036
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22311/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87LA036

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER A NORMAL APCH, HE MADE A HARD LANDING ON THE MAIN GEAR AND THE ACFT BOUNCED. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE SECOND CONTACT WAS HARD ON THE MAIN GEAR AND THAT THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN THE 2ND TIME. DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY THE ACFT INDICATED THAT IT HAD LANDED HARD ON THE NOSE GEAR THE 2ND TIME, CAUSING THE NOSE GEAR TO COLLAPSE AS A RESULT OF OVERLOAD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8456X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-220T
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 82-33013
- Airframe hours: 2050
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-KB 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: West-Tex Aircraft, Inc.
- Registered owner: Randy T. Warren
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 26, 1986, 31 hours before
- Departed: MAF, MIDLAND, TX
- Airport: LBB, Lubbock Intl., runway 17R, 11,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,674 total, 440 in this make and model, 1,615 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LBB

## 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 19861220070639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861220070639A), Dec 20, 1986: Piper PA34220T, Lubbock, TX, Substantial damage. Porpoised on landing and the nose gear collapsed on the second touchdown.

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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