# NTSB NYC91LA214: Piper PA-32-301, N4368W, Montauk, NY, August 17, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 17, 1991, 07:45 local (11:45 UTC)
- Place: Montauk, NY
- Location: 41.0767° N, 71.9205° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MONTAUK (MTP), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0767&lon=-71.9205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36992
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA214
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36992/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA214

## Probable cause

THE PILOT MADE A HARD LANDING, RESULTING IN THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSING.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INTERPRETATION OF THE WIND CONDITIONS, MISJUDGMENT OF THE FLARE CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO BALLOON AND STALL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wind information - misread, pilot in command
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - delayed, pilot in command
  - stall - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID HE FLARED THE AIRPLANE AND A GUST OF WIND FROM THE LEFT AND REAR OF THE AIRPLANE CAUSED THE NOSE TO RISE.  THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD ON THE 3000 FOOT RUNWAY CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TO COLLAPSE AND PENETRATE THROUGH THE WING.  THE PILOT COULD NOT CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF THE ARIPLANE AND IT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT STATED IN HIS ACCIDENT REPORT THAT THE WIND WAS ZERO.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4368W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-301
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-8406016
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-G5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Three Wing Flying Service,Inc.
- Registered owner: Unk
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: BDR, BRIDGEPORT, CT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MTP, Montauk, runway 6, 3,000 × 85 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 446 total, 25 in this make and model, 323 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F

## 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 19910817034759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910817034759A), Aug 17, 1991: Piper PA32301, Montauk, NY, Substantial damage. Leveled off too high for landing, stalled and dropped to runway. Gear strut came through wing. Skidded off runway.

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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