Accident Overview
On September 11, 2008, at approximately 2344 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30 (registration N4757V) operated by a private individual experienced a loss of control during the landing roll at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) in Clearwater, Florida. The flight originated from Pensacola Regional Airport (PNS) around 2000 central daylight time. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged.
Pilot Narrative
The pilot reported that she had flown to Pensacola to drop off a passenger associated with Angel Flight and was returning when the accident occurred. After takeoff, she proceeded to the destination and canceled her IFR clearance with Tampa Approach Control. Approximately 10 minutes before landing, she briefly used a flashlight with a white lens to check instruments and comply with checklist items. At about 2336, she contacted Lockheed Martin AFSS for an airport advisory and was advised of wind from 120 degrees at 10 knots.
She announced on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) that she was on left base and final for runway 09 and activated the runway lights to high setting via CTAF. She elected to land with flaps retracted. During the flare, the landing light circuit breaker tripped, rendering the landing light inoperative; she stated this was not a factor due to adequate illumination. She landed within the first third of the runway. During the landing roll, she believed she saw an animal or bird on the runway and applied brakes. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, where the left main landing gear separated and the nose and right main landing gears collapsed. The pilot and passenger exited and walked around for about half an hour before seeking assistance. She stated she was not tired.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector examined the runway and airplane. Marks were found leading off the left side of the runway. The left main landing gear was separated and located under the right wing; the right main landing gear was collapsed outboard; the nose landing gear was observed in the wheel well. The inspector noted that the collapse of both main landing gears occurred in the grass and found no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the landing gears or brakes.
Weather and Airfield Information
A surface observation weather report taken at 2353, about 9 minutes after the accident, indicated wind from 120 degrees at 10 knots with no gusts. An airfield inspection report from the day of the accident noted an entry at 0800 indicating that a flock of birds had been dispersed from runway 22.
The pilot reported that the landing light circuit breaker had tripped a couple of months earlier as well. The Safety Board's review of FAA Advisory Circular 61-21A, titled Flight Training Handbook, addressed night vision, stating that eyes must adapt to low light and avoid bright white light to prevent temporary blindness and illusions that could lead to misjudgment.