# NTSB NYC04CA110: Piper PA-34-220T, N497MA, Willoughby, OH, April 21, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 21, 2004, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Willoughby, OH - Coordinates: 41.683887, -81.389724 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6839&lon=-81.3897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 59131 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59131/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA110 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions associated with thunderstorm activity. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot entered the traffic pattern for runway 23, a 5,028-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane encountered moderate rain and gusty winds as it descended on final approach. The pilot said that as the airplane approached the runway, she did not add enough engine power in an adequate time frame to prevent a hard landing. The airplane bounced and came to rest on the runway. Subsequent inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the wing spar, fuselage, both engines, and propellers. A weather observation taken at an airport located about 16 miles southwest of the accident site included winds from 190 degrees at 16 knots, with 24 knot gusts, and a visibility of 8 statue miles with thunderstorm activity. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 2004, about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-220T, N497MA, was substantially damaged while landing at the Lost Nation Municipal Airport (LNN), Willoughby, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Spartanburg, South Carolina. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that she canceled her IFR flight plan, and entered the traffic pattern for runway 23, a 5,028-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane encountered moderate rain and gusty winds as it descended on final approach. The pilot further stated that as the airplane approached the runway, she did not add enough engine power in an adequate time frame to prevent a hard landing. The airplane bounced and came to rest on the runway. Subsequent inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the wing spar, fuselage, both engines, and propellers. The pilot reported 1,788 hours of total flight experience, which included 416 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. A weather observation taken at an airport located about 16 miles southwest of LNN, included: winds from 190 degrees at 16 knots, with 24 knot gusts, and a visibility of 8 statue miles with thunderstorm activity. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N497MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N497MA-2009-01-16), registration cancelled 2009-01-16, S/N 3449011, built 1997 (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) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3449011 - Airframe hours: 1234 - Engines: Continental LTSIO-360-RBI 220 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-360-RBIB 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Rona W. Mitrovich - Registered owner: Ametco Properties, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 10, 2003, 50 hours before - Departed: SPA, Spartanburg, SC - Destination: LNN, Willoughby, OH - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LNN, Willoughby Lost Nation Muni, runway 23, 5,028 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 4, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,788 total, 416 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 16 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: 7 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 20040421025969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040421025969A), Apr 21, 2004: Piper PA34220T, Willoughby, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 21, 2004 pilot made a hard landing due to bad weather (wind shear). Damage was substantial. No injuries. 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.