PIPER PA-42

Belmar, NJ — March 9, 2009

Event Information

DateMarch 9, 2009
Event TypeACC
NTSB NumberERA09CA190
Event ID20090309X54240
LocationBelmar, NJ
CountryUSA
Coordinates40.18694, -74.12473
AirportMonmouth Executive Airport
Highest InjuryNONE

Aircraft

MakePIPER
ModelPA-42
CategoryAIR
FAR Part091
Aircraft DamageSUBS

Conditions

Light ConditionDAYL
WeatherIMC

Injuries

Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
None2
Total Injured0

Event Location

Probable Cause

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Full Narrative

The pilot in the right seat stated that he was the "flying pilot" at the time of the accident. The flight proceeded normally in instrument meteorological conditions and the VOR-A approach was flown. Visual contact with the airport was made between 1 and 2 miles from the airport, and the pilot circled to land on runway 14. When he was between 200 and 300 hundred feet AGL, he corrected his turn to final with a "slightly aggressive bank angle" while simultaneously reducing power, resulting in an excessive sink rate. He rolled the wings to level and increased power. He was not able to arrest the sink rate before the aircraft impacted the runway. The impact collapsed the left main landing gear and caused the airplane to swerve left. The airplane came to rest approximately 1000 feet beyond the threshold off the left side of the runway. The "flying pilot" had 20 hours in the make and model of the accident aircraft as pilot in command (PIC), with 3 hours being in the preceding 90 days. The nose landing gear, right landing gear, left nacelle, wing and wing control surfaces also sustained damage during the accident sequence as the airplane departed the runway.

About This NTSB Record

This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.

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