# NTSB NYC94LA024: Piper J3, N24524, Greenland, NH, October 28, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 28, 1993, 13:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: Greenland, NH
- Location: 43.0362° N, 70.8328° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Greenland, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0362&lon=-70.8328&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38712
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38712/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA024

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing 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)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, COLLAPSING THE MAIN GEAR.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, 'I WAS IN LINE WITH INTENDED TOUCH DOWN POINT, WINGS LEVEL, CARBURETOR HEAT ON, POWER OFF (IDLE), TRIMMED FOR THREE POINT LANDING.  JUST BEFORE THE FLARE POINT, I FELT THE LOSS OF LIFT AND INCREASE IN SINK RATE.  ADDING POWER AND OTHER CONTROL INPUT HAD NO EFFECT.  THE MAIN GEAR CONTACTED THE GROUND, BROKE, AND SPREAD.  THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE CONTACTED THE GROUND AND WE SLID ON IT FOR 20 OR 30 FEET, THEN FLIPPED OVER.'  THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.

## Factual narrative

On October 28, 1993, about 1320 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3-C65, N24524, piloted by Mr. Richard G. Robinson, nosed over after landing at a private airstrip near Greenland, New Hampshire.  The airplane was substantially damaged. The 2 pilots were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91.

The pilot had landed the airplane on a grass runway and touched down hard on the main landing gear.  The gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over.

According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2:

Just before the flare point I felt the loss of lift and      increase in sink rate.  Adding power and other control      in-puts had no effect.  The main gear contacted the      ground, broke and spread...[the airplane] skidded on               [the ground] for 20 or 30 feet then flipped over.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N24524 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3266
- Airframe hours: 1942
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A65 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hampton Airfield Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 25, 1993, 71 hours before
- Departed: 7B3, HAMPTON, NH
- Airport: NONE, Sanderson'S Field, runway 8, 3,000 × 200 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 600 total, 150 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

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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