PIPER PA-32R-300
Middletown, DE — December 1, 2008
Event Information
| Date | December 1, 2008 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA09CA217 |
| Event ID | 20090326X64745 |
| Location | Middletown, DE |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 39.51917, -75.72083 |
| Airport | Summit Airport |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA-32R-300 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 3 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing in gusty conditions.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that the airplane was on short final approach for landing on runway 35 when he experienced a "sudden loss of airspeed and rapid increase in descent rate that was not altered by the application of power." The airplane landed hard on the runway, all three landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid off the left side of the runway. The wing spar and engine firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot further stated that he was flying from the right seat, which made referencing the instruments more difficult, and he "encountered windshear." The winds at an airport located 10 miles northeast of the accident airport, about the time of the accident, that were recorded as 280 degrees at 17 knots, with gusts to 34 knots.
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.