Allaire Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Belmar, New Jersey 07719
Wednesday, April 16, 1997 9:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/16/1997
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BELMAR
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07719
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ALLAIRE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BLM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 159
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 913 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BLM
Elevation of weather observation facility 159
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 796
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 17 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:14PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N321HP
NTSB Number NYC97LA078
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 327440099
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 3429
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SALVATORE J. TUFARO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7 ADAMS STREET
Aircraft Owner City EDISON
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 08820
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BLM
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 5080
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --