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NTSB Report

March 19, 2003 · Piper PA-34-200T · N930DE

West Chicago, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 19, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
West Chicago, IL
Aircraft
Piper PA-34-200T
Tail Number
N930DE
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI03LA085

The airplane sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at night. The pilot reported, "Because it was windy I flew at 100 kt on final, and on touchdown I felt that the nose was too low. I pulled back on the elevator and the nose came up, and then I lowered the nose again and again it was too low. I stopped the engines with the mixture and the plane stopped, nose down." Inspection of the airplane revealed that the nose gear was collapsed. The nose gear support tube was pushed vertically up through the top of the airframe about 6 inches. The center windshield airframe post was pushed up, and the left and right windshields were separated from the cockpit's windshield frame. All three blade tips on both propellers were bent aft and exhibited chordwise gouging and scraping.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing.

Full Narrative

On March 18, 2003, at 2010 central standard time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N930DE, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on runway 2R (5,100 feet by 100 feet, concrete) at DuPage Airport (DPA), West Chicago, Illinois. The Title 14 CFR Part 91 repositioning flight departed Midway Airport (MDW), Chicago, Illinois, at 1950 en route to DPA. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he landed at Midway to check the weather. He reported, "I flew on to Dupage on VFR, and was told to land on 2R. Because it was windy I flew at 100 kt on final, and on touchdown I felt that the nose was too low. I pulled back on the elevator and the nose came up, and then I lowered the nose again and again it was too low. I stopped the engines with the mixture and the plane stopped, nose down." Inspection of the airplane revealed that the nose gear was collapsed. The nose gear support tube was pushed vertically up through the top of the airframe about 6 inches. The center windshield airframe post was pushed up, and the left and right windshields were separated from the cockpit's windshield frame. All three blade tips on both propellers were bent aft and exhibited chordwise gouging and scraping.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:10 CST
Nearest AirportDupage Airport (0nm N)
Runway2R
Runway Length5100 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-34-200T
Tail NumberN930DE
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-E · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 43 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
Wind50° @ 17 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingOvercast 1400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point43 C / 37 C
Altimeter29.87 inHg
Observation Time01:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data