Piper PA34 accident near State College, Pennsylvania, June 26, 2019
On June 26, 2019 at about 5:16 pm local time, a 1981 Piper PA34, registered N497SA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near State College, Pennsylvania (University Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a bounced landing and landing gear collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2019 · about 5:16 pm local time
- Place
- State College, Pennsylvania · University Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA34 220T, built 1981 · all PA34s on the register
- Registration
- N497SA · no longer on the register · serial 34-8133109
- 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, while landing with gusting winds, the airplane bounced several times. During the last bounce, the nose landing gear and the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered right, exited the runway, and came to rest in the adjacent grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 532 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 425 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 25, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,054 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 4,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-360-KB1B (piston); 1,670 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-360-KB1B (piston); 1,670 hours total
- Operator: Kilo Sierra Llc
The flight
- Departed from: CEF Springfield/Chicopee MA at 3:09 pm
- Destination: UNV State College PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 6,701 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 5:23 pm from KUNV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 26, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.