# NTSB LAX84LA306: Piper PA-32-301, N82009, San Jose, CA, May 20, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 20, 1984, 15:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: San Jose, CA
- Location: 37.3630° N, 121.9286° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MINETA SAN JOSE INTL (SJC), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3630&lon=-121.9286&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24272
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA306
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24272/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA306

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload

## Analysis

THE ACFT NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING LANDING. WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE BOUNCED LANDING AS A 'PORPOISE'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82009](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82009-1995-06-22), registration cancelled 1995-06-22, S/N 328206033 (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: 32-8206033
- Airframe hours: 100
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: S & G Flight Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 1984, 99 hours before
- Departed: 045, VACAVILLE, CA
- Airport: SJC, San Jose Municipal, runway 30R, 8,901 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 202 total, 9 in this make and model, 133 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19840520018159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840520018159A), May 20, 1984: Piper PA32301, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised on landing. Damaged nose gear, prop, engine and firewall.

## Other investigations on N82009 (2)

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 LAX94LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA107), Jan 28, 1994: Piper PA-32-301 (N82009), Truckee, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, DELAY IN HIS REMEDIAL ACTION, AND FAILURE TO RAISE THE FLAPS. THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
- [NTSB LAX86LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA060), Dec 5, 1985: Piper PA-32-301 (N82009), San Jose, CA, substantial damage

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.
