N122SR

On January 20, 2006, about 1330 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-46/Jetprop, N122SR, registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, made a hard landing at Vandenberg Airport, Tampa, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. the private-rated pilot received no injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Dickson, Tennessee, the same day, about 1315.

The pilot stated that he made a 45-degree entry to the traffic pattern on downwind, and the Mode S TCAS indicated several other traffic in the area. In addition, he said he also received an audible "traffic traffic" warning, so he increased his scan, fearing that there was another airplane in the traffic pattern, possibly above or below him. He said that as a result of this distraction he made a hard landing. When the airplane impacted the runway he said that the right tire was damaged, and the airplane swerved to the right, across the grass, onto an adjacent taxiway.