Nose gear collapse during landing following sudden turbulence

Casualties unknown • Hagerstown, MD, US

An aircraft experienced a nose gear collapse and propeller strike after encountering abrupt buffeting and weather-vaning while on final approach.

What happened

The pilot was cleared for the ILS Runway 27 approach. During the final approach, the airplane encountered light to occasional moderate turbulence, necessitating a 30-40 degree drift correction to stay on course. At approximately 2 miles from the runway, the tower controller reported winds of 300 degrees at 18 knots.

As the aircraft descended to between 100 and 50 feet above the ground, the pilot noted that the crosswind subsided dramatically, allowing for runway alignment without further wind correction. The landing proceeded normally until the airplane was 3-5 feet above the runway surface, at which point the pilot experienced significant and abrupt buffeting.

The aircraft then weather-vaned to the right and rolled to the left, causing it to drift left of the centerline. Despite corrective actions taken by the pilot, the airplane touched down nose wheel first, bounced back into the air, and subsequently touched down nose wheel first a second time. This sequence resulted in the nose gear collapse and caused the propellers to contact the runway.

Probable cause

The nose gear collapsed after the aircraft weather-vaned and experienced an improper nose-first touchdown following abrupt buffeting near the ground.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2001-04-13 Piper PA-34-200 accident near Hagerstown, MD?

An aircraft experienced a nose gear collapse and propeller strike after encountering abrupt buffeting and weather-vaning while on final approach.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2001-04-13 involved a Piper PA-34-200, registration N55134, at Hagerstown, MD.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The nose gear collapsed after the aircraft weather-vaned and experienced an improper nose-first touchdown following abrupt buffeting near the ground.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010502X00850. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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