Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after touchdown. Contributing to the accident were the gusting winds.
NTSB analysis
The pilot of the airplane stated that he was flying the global-positioning-system approach for runway 9, when the active runway was changed to runway 27. He then flew the instrument-landing-system approach for runway 27, using left crosswind correction. After touchdown, while on centerline, a microburst "lifted the airplane in the air and slammed it down," compressing the nose strut and resulting in a subsequent propeller strike. Approximately 35 minutes before the accident, the winds were reported from 130 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. No microburst or windshear activity was reported by the control tower at the time of the accident. The pilot did not report the accident until he tried to obtain a ferry permit about 2 months later.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09CA104 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 24, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Tallahasee, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Tallahasse Regional Airport (TLH)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-34-200T
- N-number
- N34LM
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.