Blythe, CA, USA
N103JH
Piper PA-34
The pilot made a normal approach to runway 26 and touched down at 95 miles per hour (mph). After decelerating to 70 mph, the airplane began drifting to the left. The pilot corrected the airplane back towards the centerline. The airplane crossed the centerline and continued to the right. He tried to correct the airplane back to the left, and it entered an out-of-control side skid on the runway. At 15 mph, the right main landing gear collapsed, followed by the left main and nose gear. Winds at the time of the accident were from 090 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that he made a normal approach to runway 26 and touched down at 95 miles per hour (mph). After decelerating to 70 mph, the airplane unexpectedly began drifting to the left. The pilot corrected the airplane to the right towards the centerline. The airplane crossed the centerline and continued to the right. He stated that the airplane's movement was not in proportion to his control inputs. He tried to correct the airplane back to the left, and it entered an out-of-control side skid on the runway. At 15 mph, the right main landing gear collapsed, followed by the left main and nose gear. The airplane stopped on a heading of 104 degrees, left of the runway centerline. At 1353, the Blyth ASOS (Automated Surface Observation System) recorded winds from 090 at 4 knots. The pilot reported that the airplane had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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