Piper PA-34-200T N345CD

Summary

On 28 July 2000 at about 01:45 local time, a Piper PA-34-200T registered N345CD, operated by Bear River Aviation, was involved in an accident near Harbor Springs, Michigan, United States. 5 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.

Date

28 July 2000 at 01:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Harbor Springs, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Harbor Springs (D87)

Coordinates

45.4305, -84.9793

Aircraft

Piper PA-34-200T

Registration

N345CD

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Bear River Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Detroit → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI00LA228

Nobody was injured.

the pilot selected the wrong runway direction in which to land and he did not perform a go-around when he realized the landing approach was too high. Factors associated with the accident were the tailwind condition, the improper glidepath, and the intentional ground loop/swerve, and the fence at the end of the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that prior to landing, he called the UNICOM for wind information. He was informed that the winds were calm, so he elected to land on runway 28. He reported that the landing approach was high and he touched down 1/3 to 1/2 way down the 4,157-foot long, wet runway. He reported he applied full brakes, but the airplane did not slow down. The pilot reported that it was too late to perform a go-around so he decided to keep the airplane on the ground. The pilot made an intentional sharp left turn to avoid a fence at the end of the runway and the right main gear collapsed when it contacted the grass off the side of the runway. The airplane came to rest almost 180 degrees to the direction of landing. The pilot reported the local winds were from 080 degrees at 7 knots. He reported, 'A flight over the wind sock would have prevented this mishap.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.