# NTSB NYC92LA171: Piper PA-34-200T, N8371H, Bedford, MA, August 20, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 20, 1992, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Bedford, MA
- Location: 42.4699° N, 71.2890° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD (BED), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4699&lon=-71.2890&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37214
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92LA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37214/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA171

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL DURING THE FLARE, RESULTING IN PORPOISING AND SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - touchdown - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,tire - failure,total
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 29.  A WITNESS ON THE AIRPORT SAW N8371H PORPOISING SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN.  HE SAID, 'AFTER PORPOISING ANOTHER 4 TO 5 TIMES THE PLANE THEN PITCHED OVER AND DESCENDED TO THE RUNWAY, HITTING NOSE WHEEL FIRST...IT...PITCHED NOSE UP TO AN ALTITUDE OF 20-30' AND THEN PITCHED OVER...HITTING THE RUNWAY AGAIN NOSE FIRST.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8371H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8371H-1999-01-26), registration cancelled 1999-01-26, S/N 348133060 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7103420
- Airframe hours: 1820
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Edward Walter
- Registered owner: Edward Walter
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 1900, 35 hours before
- Departed: ASH, NASHUA, NH
- Destination: BFD
- Airport: BED, Laurence G. Hanscom Field, runway 29, 7,200 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,968 total, 198 in this make and model, 2,700 as pilot in command, 14.1 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1.7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °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 19920820032779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920820032779A), Aug 20, 1992: Piper PA34220T, Bedford, MA, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised many times on runway landing. Last porpoise pitched up nose high came down nose first.

## Other investigations on N8371H (2)

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 NYC98LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA019), Oct 24, 1997: Piper PA-34-220T (N8371H), Philadelphia, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to check the elevator trim prior to takeoff, and his failure to retard the power in a timely manner after touchdown.
- [NTSB MIA89LA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA254), Sep 17, 1989: Piper PA-34-220T (N8371H), Fort Myers, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

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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