Summary
On March 20, 1999, a Piper PA-34-200T (N5423F) was involved in an incident near St.petersburg, FL. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in a hard landing.
On March 20, 1999, at 1500 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N5423F, collided with the ground during a landing at the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport in Tampa, Florida. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial airframe damage. The flight departed Newnan-Coweta County Airport, in Newnan, Georgia, at 1200.
The pilot reported that the flight was cleared for a visual approach and landing on runway 09 at St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport. During the touchdown phase of the landing, the aircraft bounced.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ATL99LA058. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5423F.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in a hard landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On March 20, 1999, at 1500 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N5423F, collided with the ground during a landing at the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport in Tampa, Florida. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial airframe damage. The flight departed Newnan-Coweta County Airport, in Newnan, Georgia, at 1200.
The pilot reported that the flight was cleared for a visual approach and landing on runway 09 at St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport. During the touchdown phase of the landing, the aircraft bounced. The pilot recovered from the bounce and taxied to the parking ramp. During the pilot's post-landing walk-around inspection of the airplane, the pilot noticed that the right propeller and right landing gear had been was damaged. Also, there were wrinkles in the fuselage and the right wing assembly.
The partial tear down of the right wing revealed that there was substantial damage to the ribs throughout the right wing. There was also major distortion and a separation/splitting of the aft wing spar, aft of the main landing gear. The wing was determined to be non repairable by technicians at National Aviation maintenance facility. The pilot reported that the approach profile was normal and there were no mechanical problems with the plane. The pilot also reported that he may have flared too high for touchdown.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ATL99LA058