# NTSB MIA00LA261: Piper PA-34-200T, N223S, Meridianville, AL, September 1, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 2000, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Meridianville, AL - Coordinates: 34.869312, -86.569473 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8693&lon=-86.5695&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50172 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA261 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50172/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA261 ## Probable cause the pilot in command's improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in hard landing on the nose landing gear and collapse of the nose landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot stated that he last departed Albany, Georgia, and his destination was Madison County Executive Airport. The approach to runway 36 at Madison County Executive Airport was normal. After the landing flare, the aircraft touched down on the main landing gear and then bounced. The aircraft touched down again, and again bounced. The aircraft then porpoised and touched down on the nose landing gear. The nose landing gear collapsed and the windshield cracked. He maneuvered the aircraft off the runway into the grass and stopped. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2000, about 1355 central daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N223S, registered to Royal Sons inc. and operated to a private owner, was damaged during landing at Madison County Executive Airport, Meridianville, Alabama, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight last departed Albany, Georgia, the same day about 1240. The pilot stated that he is a member of the Royal Sons, Inc. flying club, and that the flying club had just purchased the aircraft. He was operating the aircraft as a personal flight. He last departed Albany, Georgia, and his destination was Madison County Executive Airport. The approach to runway 36 at Madison County Executive Airport was normal. After the landing flare, the aircraft touched down on the main landing gear and then bounced. The aircraft touched down again, and again bounced. The aircraft then porpoised and touched down on the nose landing gear. The nose landing gear collapsed and the windshield cracked. He maneuvered the aircraft off the runway into the grass and stopped. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N223S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N223S-2005-01-24), registration cancelled 2005-01-24, S/N 34-7970388, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-200T - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7970388 - Airframe hours: 3971 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-E 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Harvey B. Wasserman - Registered owner: Royal Sons Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2000, 8 hours before - Departed: ABY, ALBANY, GA - Destination: M82, MERIDIANVILLE, AL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: M82, Madison County Executive, runway 36, 3,752 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,448 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HSV, 15 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 20000901015189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000901015189A), Sep 1, 2000: Piper PA34200T, Huntsville, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot induced hard landing which caused the a/c to bounce and porpoise. On the third bounce the nose gear collapsed. The force of the impact caused the… 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.