Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

July 16, 2003 · Piper PA-34-220T · N5359J

Port Huron, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 16, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Port Huron, MI
Aircraft
Piper PA-34-220T
Tail Number
N5359J
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI03LA279

The airplane was damaged during a hard landing on runway 28. The pilot reported that the landing approach was normal. He reported that at touchdown on the main landing gear, wind gusts changed and caused the airplane to bounce off of the nose gear. The pilot attempted to settle the airplane back on the main gear, but it bounced higher and continued bouncing at least three more times veering to the left and in the grass. The weather reporting station located at the accident airport recorded the wind as 330 degrees at 6 knots. No gusts were recorded.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot misjudging the flare during landing, and his inadequate remedial action resulting in the inadvertent porpoise of the airplane.

Full Narrative

On July 16, 2003, about 1305 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-220T, N5359J, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing on runway 28 (4,001 feet by 75 feet, asphalt), at the St. Clair County International Airport (PHN), near Port Huron, Michigan. The 14 CFR part 91 business flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from the Flying Cloud Airport, Minneapolis, Minnesota, at 0915. In a written statement, the pilot stated that he made a normal left-downwind approach for runway 28 at PHN. He indicated that all airspeeds on downwind, base, and final were normal. At touchdown of the main landing gear, wind gusts changed and caused the airplane to bounce off of the nose gear. The pilot attempted to settle the airplane back on the main gear, but it bounced higher and continued bouncing at least three more times veering to the left and in the grass. The airplane then continued to roll back to runway 28 and eventually came to a stop at the run-up area of runway 10. The recorded weather at PHN at 1316 was: Winds: 330 degrees at 6 knots Visibility: 10 statue miles Sky condition: clear Temperature: 23 degrees Celsius Dew Point: 16 degrees Celsius Altimeter: 30.06 inches of mercury The pilot reported having autopilot altitude hold problems during the en route portion of the flight. However, he reported no anomalies with the primary flight controls.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:05 EDT
Nearest AirportSt Clair County Intl (1nm NW)
Runway28
Runway Length4001 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-34-220T
Tail NumberN5359J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsTeledyne Continental · TSIO-360-RB · Reciprocating · 220 | Teledyne Continental · LTSIO-360-RB · Reciprocating · 220
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter30.05 inHg
Observation Time17:16
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data