On May 17, 1996, a Piper PA-32RT-300T (registration N21312) was involved in an aviation accident near Kernville, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during approach, which resulted in a hard touchdown and subsequent collapse of the landing gear due to downdrafts near the runway threshold. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Aircraft experienced a hard landing due to downdrafts near the runway threshold, causing gear collapse and departure from the paved surface during approach.
What happened
The pilot reported that the initial approach to runway 17 appeared normal until the aircraft encountered significant downdrafts while crossing over the runway numbers. This sudden loss of lift resulted in a hard touchdown on the pavement. The impact force caused the landing gear to collapse, leading the airplane to slide off the runway and down an embankment. The pilot noted that local wind conditions were from the south-southwest at 15 to 20 knots during the event.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident included the encounter with a downdraft near the runway threshold and the subsequent hard touchdown that exceeded the structural limits of the landing gear. The collapse of the gear led directly to the aircraft leaving the paved surface.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during approach, which resulted in a hard touchdown and subsequent collapse of the landing gear due to downdrafts near the runway threshold.