On October 19, 2003, a Piper PA-32-300 (registration N198GM) was involved in an aviation accident near Everglades City, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide path during the approach to land, which resulted in him undershooting the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that after takeoff, the forward baggage compartment opened, leading to a landing where the main gear contacted ground short of the runway, causing a bounce and eventual left main gear separation.
Incident Summary
A pilot experienced an in-flight event shortly after departure when the forward baggage compartment opened. The pilot elected to remain in the traffic pattern and return to the same airport for landing. The approach was described as normal until the final approach segment, during which the descent rate increased.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, the main landing gear contacted the ground approximately 5 feet short of the runway surface. The airplane then bounced on the runway and continued for about 1,200 feet down the centerline. Subsequently, the left main landing gear separated from the airplane, causing the aircraft to veer left off the runway and into the grass. The pilot stated that prior to the accident, there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or any of its systems.