# NTSB NYC05CA120: Piper PA-34-200T, N78SF, Allentown, PA, July 2, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 2, 2005, 09:35 local (13:35 UTC)
- Place: Allentown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.570278, -75.488052
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5703&lon=-75.4881&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 27, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61948
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05CA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61948/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05CA120

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Sequence of events

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

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

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, followed by the nose gear, and then bounced back into the air.  He then added engine power, and landed without further incident.  After taxiing to the ramp, the pilot noticed damage to the airplane's nose gear.  Further examination revealed damaged to the nose frame assembly, and windshield frame.  The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions.  He reported 3,700 hours of total flight experience, which included 16 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

## Factual narrative

On July 2, 2005, about 0935 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N78SF, was substantially damaged while landing at the Queen City Municipal Airport, Allentown, Pennsylvania.  The certificated airline transport rated pilot, and four passengers were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Saranac Lake, New York.  The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that he was landing on runway 25, a 3,950-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway.  The airplane touched down on the main landing gear, followed by the nose gear, and then bounced back into the air.  The pilot added engine power, and landed without further incident.  After taxiing to the ramp, the pilot noticed damage to the airplane's nose gear.

Further examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damaged to the nose frame assembly, and windshield frame.

The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions.  He reported 3,700 hours of total flight experience, which included 16 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N78SF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-200T
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7770309
- Airframe hours: 6650
- Engines: Continental TSIO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gateway Aviation
- Registered owner: RMR Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2005
- Departed: SLK, Saranac Lake, NY
- Destination: 1N9, Allentown, PA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 3,700 total, 16 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 68 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: ABE, 6 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 20050702012999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050702012999A), Jul 2, 2005: Piper PA34200T, Allentown, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated he departed saranac lake, NY (adirondack regional airport kslk) at approximately 0730 local time for a flight to the Queen city airport…

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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