# NTSB NYC96LA033: Piper PA-28-161, N2226Z, Meriden, CT, December 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 3, 1995, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Meriden, CT - Location: 41.5368° N, 72.7945° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Meriden, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5368&lon=-72.7945&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39129 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39129/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA033 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. The unfavorable wind condition was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis THE PILOT PERFORMED A LANDING ON RUNWAY 18 WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING CROSSWIND THAT WAS VARIABLE, WITH A VELOCITY OF 20 KNOTS AND GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND BECAME AIRBORNE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO ROLL RIGHT. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE APPLIED LEFT AILERON AND RUDDER TO CORRECT THE ROLL. HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A NOSE DOWN, RIGHT WING DOWN ATTITUDE, AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRPLANE THEN WENT THROUGH SMALL TREES AND BUSHES BEFORE COMING TO REST. ## Factual narrative On December 3, 1995, at 1345 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N2226Z, was substantially damaged while landing at the Meriden Markham Municipal Airport, Meriden, Connecticut. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight, which departed from Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, about 1325, and was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was interviewed by an FAA Inspector who reported: ...the aircraft touched down [on runway 18] on the right main gear. The aircraft then bounced and became airborne with a nose down attitude. [the pilot]...pulled back on the control yoke in an effort to bring the nose back up, however the aircraft began to roll to the right. [the pilot]...attempted to correct the situation by applying left rudder and left aileron. The aircraft apparently caught the right wing tip and contacted the runway..., striking the propeller and collapsing the nose gear.... The airplane then departed the runway on the right side, and went through small trees and brush, prior to coming to rest at the edge of a 50 foot embankment. The pilot reported the winds were from 220 degrees at 15 to 20 knots, with gusts to 25 knots. A flight instructor awaiting takeoff reported: ...We noticed a piper on approach to the active. This plane's approach was low, the airspeed was slow and he appeared to have a low power setting. Under normal wind conditions his approach would have been reasonable but the winds were variable between 190 and 200 [degrees] and the velocity was 20 kts gusting to 25 kts. As the airplane passed over the numbers the pilot overcorrected with the elevator causing the plane to balloon up five feet. As the plane began to settle down again it rolled over to the right and the right wing struck the runway, the nose [landing gear] followed and struck [the runway] and collapsed[,] the propeller struck [the runway] and the plane skidded to a stop at the end of the clearing to the right of the runway. The pilot's total flight time was 121 hours, with 111 hours in the Piper PA-28. He had flown 12.5 hours in the preceding 90 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2226Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2226Z), registered now, S/N 28-7916390, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7916390 - Airframe hours: 5282 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Meridan Aviation - Registered owner: Gary A. Rochester - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 1995, 55 hours before - Departed: BDL, WINDSOR LOCKS, CT - Destination: MMK - Airport: CT, Meriden, runway 18, 3,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 121 total, 111 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19951203039469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951203039469A), Dec 3, 1995: Piper PA28161, Meriden, CT, Substantial damage. Landed on right main gear. Bounced. Lost control dragged a wing. Veered into bushes and trees off runway. Too slow. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.