# NTSB MIA95LA112: Piper PA-34, N4546L, Boynton Beach, FL, March 23, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 22, 1995, 21:30 local (Mar 23, 1995, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Boynton Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 26.520837, -80.110282 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5208&lon=-80.1103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37755
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37755/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA112

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO OBTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND HIS FAILURE TO FLARE PROPERLY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WITH ABOUT 900 FEET REMAINING ON THE 3,600-FOOT RUNWAY. THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED INTO THE AIR. THE AIRCRAFT AGAIN TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SKIDDED TO A STOP.

## Factual narrative

On March 22, 1995, about 2130 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-34, N4546L, registered to Dave's Charters, Inc., landed hard at Willis Glider Port, Boynton Beach, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed.  The airplane received substantial damage, and the private-rated pilot and three passengers were not injured.  The flight originated from Key West, Florida, on March 22, 1995, at 2030.

Investigation by an FAA inspector indicated the airplane landed hard about 3/4 of the way down the 3,600-foot grass runway.  The nose landing gear dug into the turf and collapsed.  The airplane bounced, landed again, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane then came to rest upright.

The NTSB was notified of this accident by the pilot on April 6, 1995.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4546L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4546L-2015-05-04), registration cancelled 2015-05-04, S/N 34-7770301, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34
- 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: 34-7770301
- Airframe hours: 2915
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-KB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Biederman, Shervin
- Registered owner: Dave'S Charters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 9, 1995, 25 hours before
- Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL
- Destination: 1X4
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 1X4, Willis Gliger Port, runway 9, 3,600 × 300 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 402 total, 68 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBI, 10 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 19950322018779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950322018779A), Mar 22, 1995: Piper PA34200, Boynton Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Hard landing on last third runway nose gear dug into turf runway and collapsed. Bounced. Landed folded left main.

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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