# NTSB LAX98LA062: Piper PA-24-260, N8805P, Healdsburg, CA, December 21, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 21, 1997, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Healdsburg, CA - Coordinates: 38.629737, -122.890121 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6297&lon=-122.8901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30015 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30015/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA062 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudged distance and altitude relationship to the runway during a short field approach, which resulted in an undershoot and a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - light condition - daylight - weather condition - variable wind - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload ## Analysis The pilot was making a short field approach and had increased his airspeed above the recommended approach speed due to blowing winds. On short final he encountered what he described as a wind shear. He applied power and increased back pressure but was unable to prevent the aircraft from landing short of the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the aircraft slid to a stop. A designated pilot examiner reported the pilot had failed his initial commercial flight test 6 days earlier, and during the test, had made a short field approach that was too high, too fast, and he had landed too long to meet standards. ## Factual narrative On December 21, 1997, about 1430 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA24-260, N8805P, landed short while on approach to the Healdsburg Municipal Airport near Healdsburg, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, neither the pilot nor his flight instructor rated passenger was injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight by Aeroventure Clubs, Inc., when the accident occurred. The flight last departed Virgil O. Parrett Field in Angwin, California, about 1400. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he was making a short field approach to runway 31. He was established on short final with his gear and flaps extended. He had increased his airspeed to about 5 mph above the recommended approach speed due to blowing winds. As the aircraft descended through 30 feet agl, he encountered what he described as a wind shear condition. He applied power and increased back pressure but was unable to stay airborne. The aircraft landed hard about 15 to 20 feet short of the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the aircraft slid to a stop. According to a designated pilot examiner, the pilot had failed his initial commercial flight test 6 days earlier. During his short field approach, he had been too high, too fast, and had landed too long to meet the flight test guide standards. Although his passenger was also the instructor who had recommended him for his private, instrument, and commercial flight tests, the pilot denied that he was receiving dual instruction at the time of the accident. A postaccident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the propeller was bent, the cowling was damaged, and the firewall was buckled. FAA inspectors reported that they found no evidence of mechanical failures or malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8805P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8805P-2022-04-02), registration cancelled 2022-04-02, S/N 24-4260, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (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: 24-4260 - Airframe hours: 6069 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dick Hodge - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 30, 1997, 61 hours before - Departed: 203, ANGWIN, CA - Airport: O31, Healdsburg Municipal, runway 31, 2,707 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 309 total, 59 in this make and model, 260 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 13 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: STS, 11 nm away ## 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 19971221039309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971221039309A), Dec 21, 1997: Piper PA24260, Healdsburg, CA, Substantial damage. Tried for short field landing low and slow reported downdraft caused a landing short of runway. (-23) no narrative. 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.