Piper PA-34-220T accident near Palo Alto, California, October 12, 1994
On October 12, 1994 at about 10:02 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-220T, registered N8154C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palo Alto, California (Palo Alto airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 bounced landing recovery technique.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 1994 · about 10:02 pm local time
- Place
- Palo Alto, California · Palo Alto · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8154C · no longer on the register · serial 34-7970391
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 30 WITH A GUSTY LEFT CROSSWIND CONDITION. THE PILOT SAID HE REDUCED POWER TOO RAPIDLY IN THE LANDING FLARE DUE TO HIS PREOCCUPATION WITH THE CROSSWIND AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE MAIN GEAR AND BOUNCED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IN THE BOUNCE RECOVERY HE DID NOT USE ENOUGH BACK PRESSURE ON THE ELEVATOR CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED. AFTER SEVERAL OSCILLATIONS, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 695 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 537 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,248 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 1994; 183 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: West Valley Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: SEZ Sedona AZ at 6:41 pm
- Destination: PAO CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30, 2,500 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:02 pm from PAO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.