Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after touchdown. Contributing to the accident were the gusting winds.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot of the airplane stated that he was flying the global-positioning-system approach for runway 9, when the active runway was changed to runway 27. He then flew the instrument-landing-system approach for runway 27, using left crosswind correction. After touchdown, while on centerline, a microburst "lifted the airplane in the air and slammed it down," compressing the nose strut and resulting in a subsequent propeller strike. Approximately 35 minutes before the accident, the winds were reported from 130 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. No microburst or windshear activity was reported by the control tower at the time of the accident. The pilot did not report the accident until he tried to obtain a ferry permit about 2 months later.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot of the Piper PA-34-200T stated that he was flying the global positioning system (GPS) approach for runway 9, when the active runway was changed to runway 27. He then flew the instrument landing system (ILS) approach for runway 27, using left crosswind correction. After touchdown, while on centerline, a microburst "lifted the airplane in the air and slammed it down," compressing the nose strut and resulting in a subsequent propeller strike. Approximately 35 minutes before the accident, the winds were reported from 130 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. No microburst or wind shear activity was reported by the control tower at the time of the accident. The pilot did not report the accident until he tried to obtain a ferry permit about 2 months later.