- Date
- August 3, 2008, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Charleston, SC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4376XPiper PA32
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080803855459A
- Case key
- 68629
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind condition and a wind gust, as reported by the pilot.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was on final approach to land on runway 15 when he experienced a sudden wind gust and made a "very hard landing." As the pilot taxied the airplane to the ramp, the nose landing gear collapsed. Post-accident inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the firewall, fuselage, and engine and nose strut mount assemblies. Winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 220 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the Piper PA-32-300, was on final approach to land on runway 15, a 9,001-foot-long, 200-foot-wide, asphalt runway. He reported that he experienced a sudden wind gust and made a "very hard landing." As the pilot taxied the airplane to the ramp, the nose landing gear collapsed. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the firewall, fuselage, and engine and nose strut mount assemblies. Winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident, were from 220 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. He reported 6,164 hours of total flight experience, which included about 6,000 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4376X
- Reported as
- Piper PA32 (300)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7640017
- Airframe hours
- 4,910
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John T. Parker
- Registered owner
- Parker Marine Corp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 10, 2008
- Departed
- CHS · Charleston, SC
- Destination
- CHS · Charleston, SC
- Airport
- CHS · Charleston, runway 15, 9,001 × 200 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 85
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 19, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,164 total · 6,000 in this make and model · 1,997 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.89 inHg
- Observed at
- CHS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.