# NTSB MIA89LA254: Piper PA-34-220T, N8371H, Fort Myers, FL, September 17, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 16, 1989, 20:43 local (Sep 17, 1989, 00:43 UTC)
- Place: Fort Myers, FL
- Coordinates: 26.55978, -81.87033 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5598&lon=-81.8703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32505
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA254
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32505/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA254

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.  DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING A LANDING AT NIGHT, THE ACFT BOUNCED & SUBSEQUENTLY TOUCHED DOWN HARD. THE PLT RPRTD THAT DURING THE OCCURRENCE, THE NOSE TIRE BLEW OUT & BOTH PROPS CONTACTED THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8371H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8371H-1999-01-26), registration cancelled 1999-01-26, S/N 348133060 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8133060
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-KB 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Zink, William W.
- Departed: FTW, FORT WORTH, TX
- Airport: FMY, Page Field, runway 31, 4,997 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 3,000 total, 600 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: FMY

## 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 19890916035189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890916035189A), Sep 16, 1989: Piper PA34220T, Ft Myers, FL, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised on landing. Ruptured nose collapsed left gear.

## Other investigations on N8371H (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 NYC98LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA019), Oct 24, 1997: Piper PA-34-220T (N8371H), Philadelphia, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to check the elevator trim prior to takeoff, and his failure to retard the power in a timely manner after touchdown.
- [NTSB NYC92LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA171), Aug 20, 1992: Piper PA-34-200T (N8371H), Bedford, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL DURING THE FLARE, RESULTING IN PORPOISING AND SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING.

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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