N1476A

On February 18, 2005, at 1330 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-22, N1476A, registered to the student pilot and operated by the Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), nose gear collapsed during landing roll at the Top Sail Airpark, in Holly Ridge, North Carolina. The instructional flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local training flight. The CFI and student pilot were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated in Holly Ridge, North Carolina on February 18, 2005, at 1300.

According to the CFI, after departing Top Sail Airpark for a short engine break-in flight they returned to the airpark for an approach to and landing on runway 21. He stated the winds were strong and he decided to land with a little more airspeed. He said they flew down the runway and touched down about mid-field. After landing, the CFI instructed the student pilot to apply the brakes. The CFI said he realized that they were not going to stop before the end of the runway, and elected to turned the airplane to the left towards a small field. The student pilot applied left rudder at the same time and the nose gear collapsed and the airplane's right wing struck the ground.

A review of runway information showed that runway 21 has a turf, 3200 feet long and 60 feet wide surface. The airplane rested on the left side of the landing runway at the departure end. According to performance data based upon optimum landing conditions at gross weight, the PA-22 requires about 650 feet of landing roll. According to the pilot, the airplane touched down about 1600 from the approach end of the 3200 foot long runway. The CFI did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the approach and subsequent landing.