N6367J

On March 6, 2004, about 1200 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N6367J, made a hard landing at Reno/Stead Airport (4SD), Reno, Nevada. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Yerington Municipal Airport (O43), Yerington, Nevada, about 1120, with the planned destination of 4SD. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that she was attempting to land on runway 26. While over the runway designation markings, with the airspeed 76 miles per hour, the stall warning light flashed. During touchdown, the main landing gear made contact with the runway, and the right side of the airplane sank. The pilot held the nose wheel off the runway by pulling back on the yoke, but the airplane continued to pull down to the right. The nose wheel made contact with the runway, and the airplane pulled hard to the right. The airplane sank lower and the nose wheel departed from the airplane. The pilot tried to input both brake and rudder controls, but the airplane did not respond. The airplane slid down the runway.

In a written statement, a witness, who was located about 250 feet off the approach end of the runway, reported that he saw the airplane on final approach. The airplane was configured with a very high angle of attack and was flying at a slow airspeed. About 50 to 60 feet above ground level, the airplane stalled, and the nose gear contacted the runway surface first, with the main landing gear following immediately thereafter. The airplane was about 10 to 15 degrees in a nose down attitude when it contacted the runway. The nose wheel broke off immediately after contact, and the airplane skidded on its nose a short distance down the runway.

In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the pilot and passenger reported to him, that during landing, the touchdown was normal. The ground scar on the runway showed that the airplane slid about 220 feet down the runway after the initial impact. The airplane damage included severe wrinkling of the skin on both wings and underside of the fuselage. The inspector thought that the airplane damage was consistent to that of a hard landing. After inspecting the landing gear, he found no evidence of abnormalities or mechanical malfunctions.