On January 2, 2006, a Piper PA-34-220T (registration N323RB) was involved in an aviation accident near Lawrence, MA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain proper control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard touchdown, bounce, and subsequent collapse of the nose and right main landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft experienced a hard touchdown during the landing flare, resulting in a bounce and subsequent nose-down impact that collapsed the landing gear.
What happened
The incident occurred during the final phase of flight as the aircraft was attempting to land. The pilot initiated the flare maneuver to reduce descent rate for touchdown. However, the initial contact with the runway surface was excessively hard. This impact caused the airplane to rebound back into the air while maintaining a nose-high attitude.
Following this bounce, the aircraft descended again and struck the runway surface in a nose-down configuration. The force of this second impact resulted in structural failure of the landing gear system. Specifically, both the nose landing gear and the right main landing gear collapsed upon contact with the ground.
After the gear collapse, the airplane continued to skid along the runway pavement until it came to a complete stop. The event concluded with the aircraft sustaining substantial damage to its airframe and landing gear components.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain proper control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard touchdown, bounce, and subsequent collapse of the nose and right main landing gear.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 2 Jan 2006 Piper PA-34-220T accident near Lawrence, MA?
An aircraft experienced a hard touchdown during the landing flare, resulting in a bounce and subsequent nose-down impact that collapsed the landing gear.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 2 Jan 2006 involved a Piper PA-34-220T, registration N323RB, at Lawrence, MA.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's failure to maintain proper control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard touchdown, bounce, and subsequent collapse of the nose and right main landing gear.
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