Piper PA 32R N25WE accident near Cape Carteret, North Carolina

Probable cause

The pilot’s steep approach, which resulted in a hard landing and the collapse of the landing gear during touchdown.

NTSB analysis

According to the pilot in the retractable-landing gear-equipped airplane, he set up for an extended final approach to the sandy turf runway. He waited until he cleared the trees and "then…dropped down to land." The main landing gear touched down first, followed by the nose landing gear. The main and nose landing gear collapsed upon contact with the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane slid about 300 ft before it came to a stop on the right side of the runway.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the lower fuselage.

The Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector who examined the airplane at the accident site reported that witnesses stated that the pilot landed the airplane hard on the sandy turf surface. However, the pilot stated that he did not. However, the pilot did state that he really had to bring the airplane in steep over the trees to get it on the runway.

Photographs provided by the operator showed vertical deformation of both wings at the main landing gear mount location.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA281 for the full record.