# NTSB LAX07CA285: Piper PA-32R-301T, N4175A, Stockton, CA, September 30, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 30, 2007, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Stockton, CA - Coordinates: 37.8941666666667, -121.238333333333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8942&lon=-121.2383&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66797 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA285 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66797/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA285 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty, crosswind and downdraft wind condition, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts - weather condition - downdraft - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane's wing and fuselage were buckled during a hard landing. When the pilot attempted to land at his intended destination, he encountered a gusty crosswind with downdrafts. The pilot reported that approaching the runway and "just before coming over the threshold" about 20 feet above the ground, "there was a sudden downdraft and the plane rapidly and suddenly sunk toward the ground." The right main landing gear impacted the gravel and dirt area about 10 feet in front and to the right of the runway. Ground-based witnesses observed the mishap and informed the pilot that the landing gear appeared damaged. The pilot aborted the landing and performed a go-around. The pilot diverted to an alternate airport that had a longer runway where he made an intentional gear up landing. An examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear was broken, and the right wing and fuselage were deformed. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2007, about 1515 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, N4175A, landed with retracted landing gear at the Stockton Metropolitan Airport, Stockton, California, following a hard landing at another airport. The airplane was registered to N4175, LLC, and it was operated by the company's owner on a personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged, and neither the private pilot nor passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from San Carlos, California, about 1330. In pertinent part, the pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that his planned destination was the Pine Mountain Lake (uncontrolled) Airport, Groveland, California. He had landed at Pine Mountain during the past 4 to 6 years, and he was familiar with the runway environment. Pine Mountain's runway 09/27 is 3,625 feet long and 50 feet wide. The runway has an asphalt surface. The pilot reported that the flight to Pine Mountain was uneventful. During his approach to runway 27 he noted that the wind was from the south, so he placed the airplane into a crab on the final approach leg. The pilot reported that nearing the runway and "just before coming over the threshold" about 20 feet above the ground, "there was a sudden downdraft and the plane rapidly and suddenly sunk toward the ground." The right main landing gear impacted the gravel and dirt area about 10 feet in front and to the right of the runway. The pilot aborted the landing and performed a go-around. Ground-based witnesses observed the mishap and informed the pilot that the airplane's landing gear appeared damaged. The pilot diverted to Stockton where he made an intentional gear up landing. The airplane was examined by Federal Aviation Administration personnel following its removal from Stockton's runway. The right main landing gear was found broken, structural components in the right wing were found deformed, and the right side of the fuselage was buckled at the bulkhead aft of the wing-to-fuselage attachment point. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4175A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4175A-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 3257193, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32R-301T - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (registry code 7103220) (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: 3257193 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Albert P. Halluin - Registered owner: N4175a, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SQL, San Carlos, CA - Destination: E45, Groveland, CA - Airport: SCK, Stockton Metropolitan, runway 29R, 10,650 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 809 total, 259 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20070930022409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070930022409A), Sep 30, 2007: Piper PA32R301T, Stockton, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was on final approach to runway 27 at pine mountain lake. On short final aircraft encountered a sudden down draft and aircraft rapidly… ## Other investigations on N4175A (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR10FA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA142), Feb 20, 2010: Piper PA-32R-301T (N4175A), Groveland, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's continued flight into night instrument meteorological conditions during the landing approach, which resulted in an in-flight loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation. 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.