# NTSB MIA99LA078: Piper PA-34-200T, N39531, Sanford, FL, February 10, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 10, 1999, 17:55 local (22:55 UTC)
- Place: Sanford, FL
- Coordinates: 28.809284, -81.329139 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8093&lon=-81.3291&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 45743
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45743/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA078

## Probable cause

the pilot misjudged the flare resulting in a hard landing and damage to the airplane.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that a late flare and too much speed resulted in a ballooning of the airplane and subsequent porpoising resulting in the damage.  The impact was not violent and did not seem to be hard enough to produce the resulting damage.  He was able to taxi off the runway with no problem.  Only upon engine stoppage did he notice the propeller was damaged.  Airport operations personnel picked up a briefcase and flight bag from the runway.

## Factual narrative

On February 10, 1999, about 1755 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N39531, landed hard on runway 09, at the Sanford Airport, Sanford, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage.  The private-rated pilot and four passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated from Key West, Florida, at 1600.

The pilot reported that he was too fast on the landing touchdown, causing the airplane to porpoise, and land hard.  Some parts fell off the airplane.  Airport operations personnel picked up a briefcase and flight bag from the runway.

The pilot stated, "...a late flare and too much speed resulted in a ballooning of the airplane and subsequent porpoising resulting in the damage.  The impact was not violent and did not seem to be hard enough to produce the resulting damage.  I was able to taxi off the runway with no problem...only upon engine stoppage did I notice the prop."

## Aircraft

- Registration: N39531 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-200T
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7870387
- Airframe hours: 2952
- Engines: Continental TSIO-360-KB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Larry P. Deal
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 17, 1998, 121 hours before
- Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL
- Destination: SFB
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SFB, Sanford, runway 9, 7,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 542 total, 143 in this make and model, 455 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SFB

## 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 19990210001239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990210001239A), Feb 10, 1999: Piper PA34200T, Orlando, FL, Substantial damage. Acft landed hard and sustained bent propellers, a popped windshield, and a broken strut. Other circumstances are unknown. (.19)on febuary 10, 1999, about 1340…

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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