Piper PA-32-300 accident near Belmar, New Jersey, April 16, 1997
On April 16, 1997 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N321HP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belmar, New Jersey (Allaire airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's improper decision to taxi off the runway into sand after the nose gear collapsed. A factor in the accident was the student pilot's improper flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1997 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Belmar, New Jersey · Allaire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N321HP · registry record · serial 327440099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot (SP)/owner of the airplane stated he remained in the traffic pattern and performed three takeoffs and landings, each to a full stop. During his fourth approach to runway 32, the airplane landed on the nose wheel, bounced into the air, then landed again. During the second touchdown the nose gear collapsed. The SP then steered the airplane off the left side of the runway into sand resulting in further damage. The SP had accumulated about 54 hours of total flight experience, of which 46 hours was in make and model. The SP's total solo experience was 3.5 hours, all in make and model, 1 hour of which was the accident flight.
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: student
- Flight time: 54 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,429 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLM at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,080 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:13 pm from BLM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.