N20DL

On December 13, 2006, at 0800 central standard time, a Piper PA-31T1, N20DL, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a hard landing on runway 18 (6,002 feet by 129 feet, asphalt) at Waterloo Municipal Airport (ALO), Waterloo, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating on an instrument rules flight plan. The commercial pilot and two passengers were uninjured. The flight departed from Ankeny Regional Airport, Ankeny, Iowa, at 0730 and was en route to ALO.

The pilot reported that he was vectored by air traffic control for the VOR 18 approach at ALO. He was able to make a visual approach to the runway after seeing it approximately two to three miles from the approach end of the runway. When the airplane neared the runway, the pilot applied landing flaps and reduced the engine power. During the flare, he applied engine power to soften the landing. The left engine "spooled up faster" than the right engine, which veered the airplane to the right. The pilot then reduced engine power again in order "to maintain control of the airplane." He stated that the airplane was still not aligned with the runway when it impacted the ground.