# NTSB GAA19CA435: Piper PA34, N497SA, State College, PA, June 26, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 26, 2019, 13:16 local (17:16 UTC) - Place: State College, PA - Coordinates: 40.849998, -77.847503 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8500&lon=-77.8475&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99881 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA435 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99881/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99881 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA435 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a bounced landing and 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-34-220T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 1,285 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, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while landing with gusting winds, the airplane bounced several times. During the last bounce, the nose landing gear and the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered right, exited the runway, and came to rest in the adjacent grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of a multi-engine airplane reported that, while landing with gusting winds, the airplane bounced several times. During the last bounce, the nose and the right main landing gear collapsed, the airplane veered right, exited the runway and came to rest in the adjacent grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 260° at 11 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 24. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N497SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N497SA-2022-07-02), registration cancelled 2022-07-02, S/N 34-8133109 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA34 (220T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-8133109 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 5054 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-KB1B 220 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-360-KB1B 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kilo Sierra Llc - Registered owner: Kilo Sierra Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 2018 - Departed: CEF, Springfield/Chicopee, MA - Destination: UNV, State College, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: UNV, University Park, runway 24, 6,701 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 532 total, 60 in this make and model, 425 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KUNV ## 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 20190626008049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190626008049A), Jun 26, 2019: Piper PA-34-220T, State College, PA, Substantial damage. Flight from kcef to kunv on June 26, 2019, landing rnwy 24, calm winds, clear day, dry runway, pilot landed hard bouncing the aircraft. Aircraft began to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99881. 782 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 669 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.