Piper PA-34-220T accident near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, May 14, 1991
On May 14, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-220T, registered N8356B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eau Claire, Wisconsin (Eau Claire CO airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADEQUATE FINISHING PROCEDURES USED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THE FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S BULLETIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin · Eau Claire CO
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8356B · no longer on the register · serial 34-8133D38
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED A RUNWAY LIGHT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR TRUNNION ON THE LOWER FILLET OF THE WEB ON THE TRUNNION. METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED THE FAILURE PROPAGATED FROM GRINDING MARKS MADE DURING THE MANUFACTURING FINISHING PROCESS. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED IN 1985 BY THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESSING THE INSPECTION OF THIS AREA FOR CRACKS.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,900 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 2,800 as pilot in command; 900 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-KB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALO Waterloo IA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 4,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:50 pm from EAU, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.