# NTSB MIA89LA148: Piper PA-32R-300, N43797, Gainesville, FL, May 16, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 16, 1989, 08:54 local (12:54 UTC)
- Place: Gainesville, FL
- Location: 29.6901° N, 82.2718° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GAINESVILLE RGNL (GNV), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6901&lon=-82.2718&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32433
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32433/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA148

## Probable cause

PILOT'S INABILITY TO PROPERLY FLARE DUE TO A HIGH SINK RATE AS A RESULT OF INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING SHORT OF AND OFF OF THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - electrical system,alternator - failure,total (contributing factor)
- Gear not extended, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - gear extension - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - gear down and locked - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - emergency procedure - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
  - gear extension - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLT WAS CRUISING IN VFR CONDS WHEN RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST WITH CENTER. THE PLT DESCENDED & RETURNED TO GNV. HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO FULLY EXTEND & LOCK THE GEAR USING NORMAL & EMERG MEANS DUE TO A LOSS OF ELECT POWER. AN APRCH WAS FLOWN FOR THE RWY WITH THE MAIN GEAR DOWN & THE NOSE GEAR IN AN UNDETERMINED POSITION. THE PLT STATED THAT ON SHORT FINAL APRCH, HE SAW THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE SHORT OF THE RWY & ATTEMPTED TO ADD POWER BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. A HARD LANDING WAS MADE ON THE OVERRUN SECTION OF THE RWY WHICH DROVE THE MAIN GEAR INTO THE SPAR CAUSING A PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF THE GEAR & MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. THE ALTERNATOR WAS LATER EXAMINED BY MAINT PERSNL WHO REPORTED THE BRUSHES WERE COMPLETELY BURNED OUT. TWO WITNESSES, BOTH OF WHOM ARE CFIS, STATED THAT WHILE ON SHORT FINAL, THEY HEARD TWO POWER APPLICATIONS BEFORE IMPACT BUT THE ACFT HAD DEVELOPED A NOSE HI ATTITUDE & HI SINK RATE WHICH WAS NOT ARRESTED PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE GRND. FAA PERSONL LATER TEST RAN THE ENG WHICH CHECKED OUT OK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N43797 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7780526
- Airframe hours: 3655
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540K 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Orthopaedics Associates, Inc.
- Registered owner: Orthopaedics Assoc. Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 1988, 152 hours before
- Departed: GNV, GAINESVILLE, FL
- Destination: PNS, PENSACOLA, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GNV, Gainesville Reg., runway 24, 4,147 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,307 total, 704 in this make and model, 1,257 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GNV

## 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 19890516011629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890516011629A), May 16, 1989: Piper PA32R300, Gainesville, FL, Substantial damage. Lost electrical power. Stalled and fell to runway. Collapsed nose gear. Brushes on alternator worn out.

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.