Piper PA-24-400 N8533P

Summary

On 12 March 2013 at about 19:27 local time, a Piper PA-24-400 registered N8533P was involved in an accident near Minden, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 March 2013 at 19:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Minden, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV)

Coordinates

38.9981, -119.7525

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-400

Registration

N8533P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Manti → Minden

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13CA148

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and a loss of directional control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the landing, he crossed the threshold at 85 to 90 knots with 15 degrees of flaps. The pilot used the electric trim as the airplane “floated” about 3 to 4 feet above the runway. The airplane subsequently touched down hard, and it bounced three times, striking the propeller on the runway each time. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control by applying brakes and making rudder control inputs, and the airplane departed the side of the runway, collapsing the landing gear. Postaccident examinations revealed substantial damage to the airplane’s lower belly main structure from the forward bulkhead firewall to just aft of the wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.