Philadelphia International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19113
Monday, April 2, 2012 12:26 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was cleared to land on runway 26. The recorded surface wind at the airport around the time of the accident was from 330 to 340 degrees at 14 to 18 knots, gusting to 25 knots; a peak wind gust from 350 degrees at 26 knots was recorded about 7 minutes after the accident. The pilot said that he landed on the left main gear with the right main intermittently touching the ground and tried to lower the right wing to improve wheel-to-runway contact but was unsuccessful because of a wind gust. The airplane swerved off the left side of the runway onto the soft grass area, where the airplaneā€™s main landing gear collapsed, and both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting crosswind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/2/2012
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1226
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Philadelphia
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19113
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 395212N
Event Location Longitude 0751416w
Event Location Airport Philadelphia International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PHL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 36
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1254 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PHL
Elevation of weather observation facility 36
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.84
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30312
NTSB Notification Source Philadelphia FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 10 2012 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6902L
NTSB Number ERA12CA266
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-60-602P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 60-8265034
Certified Max Gross Weight 6300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 5
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3693
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name TRIPLE DEUCE O INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 145 E WALNUT ST
Aircraft Owner City LOCK HAVEN
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17745-3521
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Michael R. Greenberg
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lock Haven
Operator State PA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 17745
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LHV
Departure City Lock Haven
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1145
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PHL
Destination City Philadelphia
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 10 2012 1:56PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --