# NTSB MIA89LA104: Piper PA-34-220T, N8417H, St Augustine, FL, March 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1989, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: St Augustine, FL
- Coordinates: 29.890449, -81.309143 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8904&lon=-81.3091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32407
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32407/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA104

## Probable cause

INADVERTENTLY RETRACTION OF THE LANDING GEAR, AND FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) TO NOTE THAT THE GEAR HAD BEEN RETRACTED.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS:  IMPROPER FLARE BY  THE  STUDENT PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, dual student (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - performed, dual student
- Gear not extended, landing
  - gear retraction - inadvertent, unknown (cause)
  - gear retraction - not identified, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - wheels up landing

## Analysis

THE MULTI-ENG PVT PLT WAS RECEIVING INSTRUCTION FROM HIS CFI. THE PLT STATED THE LDG WAS ON THE MAIN GEAR, 'SLIGHTLY HARD & THE PLANE FLOATED UP A COUPLE OF FT.'  TOUCHING DOWN AGAIN ABT 50 YDS DOWN THE RWY, THE ACFT LNDD ON THE WHEELS, BUT SEEMED LOW. THE CFI ADMITTED TO A FLAT APCH WHICH RESULTED IN A 'SLIGHT BOUNCE OF ABT 3 FT'.  THE ACFT WAS PLACED ON JACKS & 8 RETRACTION/EXTENSION CYCLES WERE PERFORMED.  THE GEAR OPERATED NORMALLY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE; SCUFF MARKS ON THE SIDEWALLS OF THE MAIN GEAR TIRES INDICATED THEY WERE UP AS THE ACFT SKIDDED ALONG THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8417H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8417H), registered now, S/N 34-8133178, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-220T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8133178
- Airframe hours: 1200
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Regency Electric Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 8, 1989, 3 hours before
- Departed: CRG, JACKSONVILLE, FL
- Airport: SGJ, St Augustine, runway 24, 2,600 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 518 total, 57 in this make and model, 408 as pilot in command, 66 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRG, 27 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 19890312028659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890312028659A), Mar 12, 1989: Piper PA34220T, St Augustine, FL, Substantial damage. Gear collapsed after landing. No defects found. Appears retracted by crew but denied. Had practiced manual extend.

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.

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