Register

May 12, 2006, Del Norte, Colo. / Piper PA-46-350

The airplane was substantially damaged during a hard landing at approximately 1645 Mountain time. Visual conditions prevailed; the Private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The pilot later said he made his final approach to 85 KIAS with two notches of flap. About 150 yards from the runway threshold, the airplane fell and began to sink excessively in a nose-high attitude. He attributed this to windshear. The airplane landed hard and bounced. A pilot-witness said the wind was about 5-10 knots down the runway with no gusts. The accident airplanes approach was low and with a high power setting. When the airplane touched down, it rolled forward on its nose wheel. He heard power appl...

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An airplane sustained substantial damage during a hard landing, though the pilot and three passengers were uninjured.
  • The pilot attributed the hard landing to windshear and excessive sink, while a witness reported only light, steady wind and observed a low approach with a high power setting.
  • The aircraft landed hard on its nose wheel, after which power was reportedly applied and the landing gear began to retract.
See a mistake? Contact us.

The airplane was substantially damaged during a hard landing at approximately 1645 Mountain time. Visual conditions prevailed; the Private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The pilot later said he made his final approach to 85 KIAS with two notches of flap. About 150 yards from the runway threshold, the airplane fell and began to sink excessively in a nose-high attitude. He attributed this to windshear. The airplane landed hard and bounced. A pilot-witness said the wind was about 5-10 knots down the runway with no gusts. The accident airplanes approach was low and with a high power setting. When the airplane touched down, it rolled forward on its nose wheel. He heard power applied and he said the gear started to come up.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE