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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 28, 1998 · Piper PA-32-300 · N44295

Opa Locka, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 28, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (6 uninjured)
Location
Opa Locka, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-300
Tail Number
N44295
Operator
Manuel Garrito
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA98LA257

The pilot bounced on his initial touchdown. He attempted to correct with the application and then reduction of power during which the aircraft entered a nose high attitude and stalled. The aircraft then touched down hard a second time and began porpoising during which the nose landing gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded off the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper remedial action in recovering from a bounced landing resulting in a stall, and his incorrect recovery from a pilot induced oscillation (PIO) condition. A factor was the pilot's failure to execute a timely go-around maneuver.

Full Narrative

On August 27, 1998, about 2315 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N44295, registered to Caribbean Aviation, LC, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while landing at Opa Locka Airport, Miami, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and four passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Key West International Airport about 50 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot's statement, his landing flare resulted in a hard touchdown and resultant bounce. At some point in that first bounce, he added and then reduced power for a second flare, but his compensation for a wind gust was inadequate, and the nose attitude became too high. The airplane stalled, sustained a second hard touchdown and started porpoising. The porpoising continued until the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded off the runway. The occurrence was upgraded from incident status with minor damage to substantial damage on October 2, 1998, when Miami FSDO notified NTSB that closer inspection revealed wing spar damage.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time23:15 EDT
Nearest AirportOpalocka International (0nm)
Runway9L
Runway Length8000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32-300
Tail NumberN44295
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorManuel Garrito
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1A5 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (6 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured6
Total6
Crew 1Age 50 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind110° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time02:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data