- Date
- April 16, 1997, 09:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place
- Belmar, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N321HPPiper PA-32-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 10, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970416047159A
- Case key
- 39347
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The student pilot's improper decision to taxi off the runway into sand after the nose gear collapsed. A factor in the accident was the student pilot's improper flare.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The student pilot (SP)/owner of the airplane stated he remained in the traffic pattern and performed three takeoffs and landings, each to a full stop. During his fourth approach to runway 32, the airplane landed on the nose wheel, bounced into the air, then landed again. During the second touchdown the nose gear collapsed. The SP then steered the airplane off the left side of the runway into sand resulting in further damage. The SP had accumulated about 54 hours of total flight experience, of which 46 hours was in make and model. The SP's total solo experience was 3.5 hours, all in make and model, 1 hour of which was the accident flight.
Factual narrative
On April 16, 1997, at 0915 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N321HP, was substantially damaged during landing at the Allaire Airport, Belmar, New Jersey. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo instructional flight that originated at Allaire (BLM), about 0815. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the student pilot (SP)/owner of the airplane stated that he had remained in the BLM traffic pattern, and performed three takeoffs and landings, each to a full stop. During his fourth approach to runway 32, the airplane landed on the nose wheel, bounced into the air, then landed again. During the second touchdown the nose gear collapsed. The SP held the nose off, then using the brakes, steered the airplane off the left side of the runway into sand.
The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's report stated, the SP exited the left side of the runway where there was no taxiway, and the airplane nose gear sunk into loose sand. Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact failure of the airframe or engine.
The SP had accumulated about 54 hours of total flight experience, of which 46 hours was in make and model. The SP's total solo experience was 3.5 hours, all in make and model, 1 hour of which was the accident flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N321HP
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 327440099
- Airframe hours
- 3,429
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-K1A5, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Salvatore J. Tufaro
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- BLM
- Airport
- BLM · Allaire, runway 32, 5,080 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 54 total · 46 in this make and model · 4 as pilot in command · 46 in the last 90 days · 28 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BLM
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.