# NTSB MIA94LA041: Piper PA-32-300, N2872D, Atlanta, GA, December 25, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 25, 1993, 14:16 local (19:16 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.739707, -84.570861 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7397&lon=-84.5709&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37472 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37472/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA041 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO APPLY POWER AFTER THE AIRSPEED DECREASE JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN AND ALSO FAILURE TO RECOVER FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IN-FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WIND GUSTS WHILE ON APPROACH TO LAND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts - airspeed - improper, pilot in command - throttle/power control - not used, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT DEVIATED DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER AND WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 26 AT THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT, THE PILOT ADVISED HE HAD ATIS INFORMATION 'INDIA.' THE WINDS WERE FROM 280 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 18 KNOTS. THE FLIGHT WAS CLEARED TO LAND AND THE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY THE CONTROLLER THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 290 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AND STATED THAT JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRSPEED DECREASED 10 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE THEN LANDED HARD ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR AND BEGAN TO PORPOISE. THE PILOT DID NOT APPLY POWER TO GO-AROUND AND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED ON THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN. ## Factual narrative On December 25, 1993, about 1416 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N2872D, registered to Robert O'Conner dba O'Conner Flying Service, was substantially damaged while landing at the Fulton County Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed for a flight from Spartanburg, South Carolina, to Huntsville, Alabama. The private-rated pilot and four passengers were not injured. The flight originated at 1147. The pilot elected to deviate to an alternate airport due to adverse weather ahead on the route of flight. While in the traffic pattern for landing on runway 26 at the alternate airport, the pilot advised the controller that he had the current ATIS information "India" which indicated that the winds were from 280 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 18 knots. The flight was cleared to land and the pilot was advised by the controller that the wind was from 290 degrees at 12 knots. The pilot acknowledged this and stated that he lowered only 10 degrees of flaps for landing due to the wind gusts. The pilot stated that just before touchdown the airspeed decreased 10 knots and the airplane landed hard on the nose landing gear. The airplane began to porpoise and the pilot did not apply power to go-around. The nose landing gear collapsed on the second landing and the airplane then came to rest. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2872D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2872D), registered now, S/N 32-7940167, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7940167 - Airframe hours: 2040 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: O'Conner, Robert DBA O'Conner - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 1993, 73 hours before - Departed: SPA, SPARTANBURG, SC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FTY, Fulton County-Brown Field, runway 26, 5,796 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 377 total, 48 in this make and model, 345 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FTY, 1 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 19931225049629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931225049629A), Dec 25, 1993: Piper PA32300, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. Deviated while in traffic pattern due weather. Bounced and porpoised landing until nose gear folded. Gusty wind. ## Other investigations on N2872D (1) 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 MKC82DA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC82DA020), Jan 23, 1982: Piper PA-32-300 (N2872D), Topeka, KS, substantial damage 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.