NTSB Factual Report

On April 13, 2001, about 1430 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-34-200, N55134, was substantially damaged while landing at the Washington County Regional Airport (HGR), Hagerstown, Maryland. The certificated airline transport was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed Manassas Regional/Harry P. Davis Field Airport (HEF), Manassas, Virginia, about 1315. No flight plan was filed and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he departed Manassas, and then flew to Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (MRB), Martinburgs, West Virginia. Once there, the pilot executed an ILS approach. While on final, he experienced moderate turbulence, and wind gusts he thought exceeded the airplane's limits. Because of these conditions, the pilot elected to conduct a low approach. The airplane climbed out, and the pilot proceeded via visual flight rules to Hagerstown, where he requested and was subsequently cleared for the ILS Runway 27 approach.

While on final for Runway 27, the airplane encountered light to occasional moderated turbulence, and a head/cross wind that required a 30-40 degree drift correction. Approximately 2 miles from the runway, the pilot requested the current winds from the tower controller. The controller advised the pilot that the winds were 300 degrees at 18 knots. The pilot continued the approach and 100 to 50 feet above the ground felt the crosswind "dramatically" subside. The pilot was then able to maintain runway alignment with no wind correction. The landing phase of the approach continued without incident until the airplane was 3-5 feet above the runway. At that point, the pilot felt a "significant and abrupt" buffeting of the airplane. The airplane "weather-vaned" to the right, rolled left, and started to drift left of the centerline. The pilot applied corrective action; however, the airplane touched down nose wheel first, bounced back into the air, and then touched down nose wheel first again. The nose gear collapsed and the propellers contacted the runway. The airplane came to a stop, the pilot secured the engines and egressed.

The pilot reported a total of 2,530 hours of flight experience, of which 7.5 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. In addition, the pilot made no mention of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that could have contributed to the accident

About 23 minutes after the accident, Hagerstown reported wind 280 degrees at 22 knots gusting to 28 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 72 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 30 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter of 29.88 inches of mercury.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment during the landing phase. A factor in the accident was a sudden change in wind direction and speed.