Event CHI93LA172

Factual narrative

On May 14, 1993, at 1439 central daylight time (CDT), a Piper PA-32-300, N2947E, registered to BCS Aero Sales of Polk City, Iowa, and piloted by a private pilot was substantially damaged during a hard landing on Runway 19L (3,300' X 75' dry concrete) at the DuPage County Airport, West Chicago, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating on a VFR flight plan. The pilot and passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at 1329 CDT. The pilot stated that the control tower told him to use Runway 19L when he was approximately 150 feet above the ground while aligned with Runway 19R. He said the control tower announced the wind had shifted to 280 degrees at 19 knots. As the pilot realigned the airplane for Runway 19L he stated the control tower announced the wind was at 260 degrees at 18 knots. The pilot stated the airplane's rate of descent was higher than it should have been due to his crosswind landing technique. He stated, "I should have had more power in, my descent was higher than normal. I was distracted by ATC, they kept announcing the winds." He stated the airplane landed hard and that he thought the main landing gear tires had struck the runway lip. An on-scene investigation revealed the following damage: main landing gear mounting bolts had sheared and the spar bolt holes were elongated, top and bottom spar caps in the vicinity of the main landing gear mounts were twisted, bottom wing skins aft of the main landing gear mounts were punctured inward, the top wing skins above the lower puncture areas were punctured outward, both landing flaps were crushed in an area in line with the main landing gear mounts, both main landing gear wheels were deformed and the tires blown, brake disc on both wheels were bent outward, rivets separated from the stabilator main spar at its pivot point, the left side of the fuselage aft of the cabin's rear bulkhead had compression wrinkled skin, and the tail skid/tie down ring had pushed upward into the fuselage bulkhead and associated skin. THE AIRPLANE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH FOR RUNWAY 19R. WHEN THE PILOT WAS DIRECTED TO CHANGE TO RUNWAY 19L BY THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED AND MADE THE CHANGE. AS THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE RUNWAY'S THRESHOLD, THE CONTROL TOWER ANNOUNCED THE WIND HAD CHANGED TO 280 DEGREES AT 19 KNOTS. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE LANDING APPROACH. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S DESCENT RATE WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE, SEPARATING THE MAIN LANDING GEAR FROM THEIR WING MOUNTS. THE PILOT STATED HE SHOULD HAVE ADDED MORE POWER TO CONTROL THE DESCENT RATE AND THAT THE CONTROL TOWER HAD DISTRACTED HIM WITH THE WIND DIRECTION AND SPEED ANNOUNCEMENTS Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12