Piper PA-34-220T accident near Bogalusa, Louisiana, February 6, 2011
On February 6, 2011, a Piper PA-34-220T, registered N80311, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Bogalusa, Louisiana (Bogalusa airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate flare after encountering a gust of wind on landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 2011
- Place
- Bogalusa, Louisiana · Bogalusa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N80311 · no longer on the register · serial 34-8233056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he encountered a gust of wind while attempting to land his twin-engine airplane and subsequently landed hard on the right main landing gear. Examination of the airplane revealed the inboard section of the right wing sustained substantial damage, the landing gear was damaged, and all three blades on the right propeller were curled aft. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the airplane or engine.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,021 hours in all; 451 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSI0-470-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSI0-470-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUS Austin TX
- Destination: BXA Bogalusa LA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 36
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.