Piper PA-34-220T N8154C
12 October 1994 · Palo Alto, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 12 October 1994 at about 22:02 local time, a Piper PA-34-220T registered N8154C, operated by West Valley Flying Club, was involved in an accident near Palo Alto, California, United States. 3 people were 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.
The record
- Date
- at 22:02
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Palo Alto, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Palo Alto (PAO)
- Coordinates
- 37.4503, -122.1007
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T
- Registration
- N8154C
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- West Valley Flying Club
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Sedona → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX95LA014
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
the pilot's improper bounced landing recovery technique.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 30 WITH A GUSTY LEFT CROSSWIND CONDITION. THE PILOT SAID HE REDUCED POWER TOO RAPIDLY IN THE LANDING FLARE DUE TO HIS PREOCCUPATION WITH THE CROSSWIND AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE MAIN GEAR AND BOUNCED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IN THE BOUNCE RECOVERY HE DID NOT USE ENOUGH BACK PRESSURE ON THE ELEVATOR CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED. AFTER SEVERAL OSCILLATIONS, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-34 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jul 1994 | Piper PA-34-200T | Lumberton, New Jersey, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Feb 1994 | Piper PA-34-200 | Gulf of Mexico | Rich, James Bell | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-34-200 | Vacherie, Louisiana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-34-200T | Dallas, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 1994 | Piper PA-34-200 | Marion, Iowa, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1994 | Piper PA-34-200T | Salmon, Idaho, United States | Salmon Air Taxi | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-28R-201 | Fort Bragg, California, United States | Sundance Flying Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 May 1994 | Schweizer G-164B | Yuba City, California, United States | Sutter Butte Dusters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Sep 1994 | Cessna T210L | Kettleman City, California, United States | Willie Alves Rodrigues | No injuries | - |
| 13 May 1994 | Maule M-5-235C | Columbia, California, United States | White, James L. | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1994 | Cessna 150L | Rio Linda, California, United States | Hinckley, Thomas, F. | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Chico, California, United States | Sierra Aviation | No injuries | - |