# NTSB MIA98LA257: Piper PA-32-300, N44295, Opa Locka, FL, August 28, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 1998, 23:15 local (Aug 28, 1998, 03:15 UTC) - Place: Opa Locka, FL - Coordinates: 25.910942, -80.270439 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9109&lon=-80.2704&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44100 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA257 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44100/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA257 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper remedial action in recovering from a bounced landing resulting in a stall, and his incorrect recovery from a pilot induced oscillation (PIO) condition. A factor was the pilot's failure to execute a timely go-around maneuver. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot bounced on his initial touchdown. He attempted to correct with the application and then reduction of power during which the aircraft entered a nose high attitude and stalled. The aircraft then touched down hard a second time and began porpoising during which the nose landing gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded off the runway. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 1998, about 2315 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N44295, registered to Caribbean Aviation, LC, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while landing at Opa Locka Airport, Miami, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and four passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Key West International Airport about 50 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot's statement, his landing flare resulted in a hard touchdown and resultant bounce. At some point in that first bounce, he added and then reduced power for a second flare, but his compensation for a wind gust was inadequate, and the nose attitude became too high. The airplane stalled, sustained a second hard touchdown and started porpoising. The porpoising continued until the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded off the runway. The occurrence was upgraded from incident status with minor damage to substantial damage on October 2, 1998, when Miami FSDO notified NTSB that closer inspection revealed wing spar damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44295](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44295), registered now, S/N 32-7440149, built 1974 (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 TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7440149 - Airframe hours: 2884 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Manuel Garrito - Registered owner: Caribbean Aviation Lc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 8, 1998, 78 hours before - Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL - Destination: OPF - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: OPF, Opalocka International, runway 9L, 8,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 337 total, 45 in this make and model, 289 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 81 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OPF ## 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 19980827040009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980827040009A), Aug 27, 1998: Piper PA32300, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. (.19)On August 27, 1998, about 2315 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N44295, registered to a private individual, operating as a 14 CFR part 91… ## Other investigations on N44295 (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 CHI79FA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA008), Sep 25, 1978: Piper PA-32 (N44295), Lansing, IL, 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.