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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 8, 2006 · Piper PA-28-181 · N8068J

Coalinga, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 8, 2006
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Coalinga, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Tail Number
N8068J
Operator
Air Desert Pacific
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX06CA272

The airplane bounced during landing, followed by a hard touchdown, and the nose landing gear separated. As a result, the firewall buckled. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions and that the accident was purely operational.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his inadequate recovery technique that led to a hard landing.

Full Narrative

On April 8, 2006, at 1220 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA 28-181, N8068J, bounced during landing and separated the nose landing gear while landing at Harris Ranch Airport, Coalinga, California. Air Desert Pacific was operating the privately registered airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot departed from Chino Airport, Chino, California, at 1000, and was landing at his destination airport when the accident occurred. In a telephone interview following the accident, the pilot stated that the airplane touched down on runway 32 and bounced. As the airplane returned to the runway surface it impacted hard and the nose landing gear separated. The pilot stated that the accident was purely operational and there were no mechanical malfunctions. This accident was upgraded from an incident after verification of the airplane damage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector on August 30, 2006. The inspector reported that the firewall was bent during the accident sequence. There had been no attempt by the operator to remove the airplane from Harris Ranch Airport, and was presumed abandoned by airport personnel. According to the Chino airport manager, Air Desert Pacific ceased operations at Chino airport in April 2006.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:20 PDT
Nearest AirportHarris Ranch (0nm)
Runway32
Runway Length2820 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-181
Tail NumberN8068J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAir Desert Pacific
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsTextron Lycoming · O-360 · Reciprocating

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 30 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data