What happened
On October 1, 2019, at approximately 3:30 PM, a Piper PA-32-300, registered as N38677, was performing a private flight from Deadman’s Cay Airport on Long Island to Pitts Town Airport on Crooked Island, Bahamas. The aircraft was carrying a total of five persons on board.
During the approach to runway 09 at Pitts Town, the pilot encountered significant wind disturbances. These adverse winds caused the aircraft to strike a sand bank situated at the start of the runway. This impact led to a hard landing, which subsequently caused the left main landing gear to detach from the aircraft. Following the gear collapse, the aircraft exited the runway surface.
The investigation
The AAID conducted a field investigation into the incident. Investigators examined the aircraft's flight path and the environmental conditions present during the landing phase. The investigation confirmed that while the weather was within visual meteorological conditions, the presence of strong, unfavorable winds played a critical role in the sequence of events. The inspection of the aircraft revealed damage to the left wing, the flaps, and the undercarriage, specifically noting that the left main gear had become detached.
Findings
- The primary contributing factor was the encounter with adverse wind conditions during the final approach.
- The aircraft made contact with a sand bank at the runway threshold.
- The resulting hard landing caused the structural failure of the left main landing gear.