Piper PA-32-300 N321HP

Summary

On 16 April 1997 at about 13:15 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N321HP was involved in an accident near Belmar, New Jersey, 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

16 April 1997 at 13:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Belmar, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Allaire (BLM)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N321HP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC97LA078

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's improper decision to taxi off the runway into sand after the nose gear collapsed. A factor in the accident was the student pilot's improper flare.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot (SP)/owner of the airplane stated he remained in the traffic pattern and performed three takeoffs and landings, each to a full stop. During his fourth approach to runway 32, the airplane landed on the nose wheel, bounced into the air, then landed again. During the second touchdown the nose gear collapsed. The SP then steered the airplane off the left side of the runway into sand resulting in further damage. The SP had accumulated about 54 hours of total flight experience, of which 46 hours was in make and model. The SP's total solo experience was 3.5 hours, all in make and model, 1 hour of which was the accident flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.