On August 23, 1999, a Piper PA-14 (registration N5402H) operated by John P. Bast was involved in an aviation accident near Fairbanks, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's stall of the airplane during the landing flare, which resulted in the main landing gear striking the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A private pilot experienced a stall while flaring for landing approximately three feet above the runway surface, causing the main gear to impact the ground and sustaining substantial airframe damage.
What happened
The certificated private pilot reported that during the final phase of the approach, the aircraft encountered an aerodynamic stall while in the landing flare. This event occurred at an altitude of approximately three feet above the runway surface. As a result of the loss of lift, the main landing gear struck the runway pavement hard.
The pilot noted being relatively new to operating this specific type of airplane and indicated that they had not yet fully mastered its handling characteristics during the landing phase.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the airframe. Key areas affected included the right landing gear attach point and a fuselage longeron, consistent with the forces generated by the main gear impact.
Probable cause
The pilot's stall of the airplane during the landing flare, which resulted in the main landing gear striking the runway.