# NTSB NYC89LA118: Piper PA-34-220T, N8468H, W.Mifflin, PA, April 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1989, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place: W.Mifflin, PA
- Coordinates: 40.359676, -79.900711 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3597&lon=-79.9007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36397
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36397/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA118

## Probable cause

THE IMPROPER LEVEL OFF OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND SUBSEQUENT GEAR COLLAPSE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - level off - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

BOTH THE NOSE GEAR AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED DURING LANDING. DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND NOSE SECTION OF THE AIRPLANE INDICATED THAT A HARD LANDING WAS MADE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8468H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8468H-1998-06-10), registration cancelled 1998-06-10, S/N 348233038 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8233038
- Airframe hours: 3057
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-K8 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Carlin Investiment  Co.
- Registered owner: Carlin Investment Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 4, 1989, 93 hours before
- Departed: CMH, COLUMBUS, OH
- Destination: AGC, W.MIFFLIN, PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AGC, Allegheny Co., runway 25, 5,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,202 total, 24 in this make and model, 1,529 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19890415063499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890415063499A), Apr 15, 1989: Piper PA34220T, Pittsburgh, PA, Substantial damage. Gear collapsed on landing. Damage indicates a serve drop on landing.

## Other investigations on N8468H (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 IAD97FA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97FA022), Nov 15, 1996: Piper PA-34-220T (N8468H), West Milton, OH, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control after an undetermined failure of the automatic flight control. A contributing factor was failure of the maintenance technician to have the airplane…

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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