Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During the landing flare, the airplane touched down hard and broke off the left main landing gear. As the airplane skidded to a stop, the right main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the accident site revealed three deep impressions in the ground where the airplane touched down on the runway. The fracture face of the broken left gear assembly exhibited an overload failure mode.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 17,1994, at 1115 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-601P, N22ML, landed hard and failed the left main landing gear at Groton Plantation Airport in Luray, South Carolina. The personal flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, with a visual flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Statesboro, Georgia, at 1100 hours. An examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane touched down within the first third of the sod runway. There were three deep landing gear impressions in the sod runway where the airplane touched down. Debris from the separated left main landing gear was scattered along the runway surface. The airplane skidded 465 feet and came to rest off the left side of the runway. The examination of the broken landing gear assembly fracture face, revealed overload damage. The pilot did not report a problem with the airplane before the landing. -