Incident Overview
On 13 July 2001 at 19:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration EC-CSX, was conducting a dual instruction flight under visual flight rules. The flight originated from and was destined for Cuatro Vientos Airport. While maneuvering near Casarrubios del Monte Aerodrome (Toledo), the aircraft performed a landing on the aerodrome's runway. During the final approach, the aircraft contacted the ground on the runway strip preceding the threshold of Runway 26. The crew was alerted by another pilot that the right main landing gear leg had been lost. The instructor maintained the aircraft level during the landing roll until control authority was lost, and the right wingtip contacted the runway surface. The aircraft then veered off the right side of the runway and came to a stop on the strip. The crew shut down the fuel selector valve, magnetos, and master switch, then evacuated unassisted and uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft was a Piper PA-28-140, serial number not specified, powered by a single Lycoming O-320-D3G engine. The pilot in command was 31 years old, holding a commercial pilot license and a flight instructor rating FI(A). He had logged 595 total flight hours; hours on type were not reported.
Sequence of Events
According to the instructor's statement, during the approach to the runway with a wind of 10 to 15 knots from slightly left of the nose, the aircraft descended below the glide path. Power was added to regain the proper path. Shortly before reaching the runway, the crew perceived a descent and heard a loud impact. They were subsequently informed by another pilot that the right main gear was missing. Despite keeping the aircraft level during the landing roll, they could not prevent the aircraft from exiting the right side of the runway as speed decayed.
Damage and Wreckage
Inspection of the terrain along the runway centerline extension revealed evidence of contact by the right main wheel. Skid marks from the right wing were visible on the asphalt. The right main landing gear leg was found sheared at its structural attachment. The right wing showed widespread damage to the lower surface and control surfaces; the aft lower fuselage near the tail skid assembly was also damaged.
Analysis
The approach path was not maintained at an appropriate height during the latter segment of the final approach to Runway 26, causing the aircraft to contact the ground before the intended touchdown point. The instructor's efforts to keep the aircraft level were successful until speed loss rendered the controls ineffective, leading to a wing-drop and subsequent runway excursion.
The incident occurred due to a crew error in maintaining adequate altitude along the descent path in the final segment of the approach.