# NTSB GAA16CA222: Piper PA32RT, N4450S, Gainesville, GA, May 5, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 5, 2016, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Gainesville, GA
- Coordinates: 34.273612, -83.83139 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2736&lon=-83.8314&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 15, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93128
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA222
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93128/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93128
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA222

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate during the landing flare in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing, left main landing gear collapse, and runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/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-32RT-300T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing flare a gust of wind caused the airplane to balloon 10 to 15 feet above the runway. The pilot further reported that the touchdown was hard, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. An automated weather observing system, about the time of the accident, reported the wind from 310 degrees true at 14 knots, gusting to 20 knots, for the landing on runway 29. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing flare a gust of wind caused the airplane to balloon 10 to 15 feet above the runway. The pilot further reported that the touchdown was hard, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. An automated weather observing system, about the time of the accident, reported the wind from 310 degrees true at 14 knots, gusting to 20 knots, for the landing on runway 29. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4450S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4450S-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 32R-7987073, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32RT (300T)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7987073
- Year built: 1979
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-S1 AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 2016
- Departed: GVL, GAINESVILLE, GA
- Destination: GVL, GAINESVILLE, GA
- Airport: GVL, Lee Gilmer Memorial, runway 29, 4,001 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 27, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 515 total, 372 in this make and model, 482 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observed at: KGVL

## 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 20160505004519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160505004519A), May 5, 2016: Piper PA-32RT-300T, Gainesville, GA, Substantial damage. On may 05, 2016 approximately 1800, local time the pilot of N4450S was practicing touch and go?s on runway 29 at Gainesville, Georgia airport [kgvl]. On the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93128. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 883 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441003&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441005&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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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