Piper PA23-250 N32AC

Summary

On 31 May 1990 at about 16:45 local time, a Piper PA23-250 registered N32AC, operated by Corporate Aircraft Leasing, Inc, was involved in an accident near Carbondale, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 May 1990 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Carbondale, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Southern Illinois (MDH)

Coordinates

37.6692, -89.2791

Aircraft

Piper PA23-250

Registration

N32AC

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Corporate Aircraft Leasing, Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI90LA144

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TOUCHDOWN AND LANDING ROLL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FIRST TOUCH AND GO WAS UNEVENTFUL, BUT WHEN THE NOSE GEAR TOUCHED DOWN ON THE SECOND LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED 'VIOLENTLY' TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, THEN SWERVED 'RATHER SUDDENLY' BACK TO THE RIGHT AND ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER STATED THAT THE PILOT APPLIED PULL RIGHT RUDDER AND RIGHT BRAKE, AND USED DIFFERENTIAL POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED SKID MARKS ON THE RUNWAY WHICH WERE CONSISTENT WITH A TOUCH DOWN WITH THE LEFT BRAKE LOCKED. EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED THAT THE NOSE GEAR STEERING ARM FAILED IN AN OVERLOAD FAILURE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.