# Accident 19971103040809A: Piper PA28151, Clarksville, FL, November 3, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 3, 1997, 13:00 local time
- Place: Clarksville, FL
- Airport: Steep Head Farm
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.4308° N, 85.1808° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4308&lon=-85.1808&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4502X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4502X-2003-01-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-151 (registry code 7102805, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28151
- Reported engine: LYC O320A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 186 total, 50 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971103040809A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

HARD CROSSWIND LANDING FOLDED NOSEGEAR. PROP STRIKE. LEFT MAIN COLLAPSED. BLAMED STUCK THROTTLE. NONE FOUND. (-23) ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 1997, A PA-28, N4502X, DEPARTED MARIANNA, FL ON A TRAINING FLIGHT TO STEEP HEAD, FL, NEAR CLARKSVILLE, FL. DURING THE VISUAL LANDING THE PILOT LANDED NOSE FIRST INTO THE GRASS RUNWAY, WITH A RESULTING HARD LANDING AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.  THE LEFT MAIN GEAR BROKE OFF, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, THE PROP WAS BENT, THE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN AND THE FORWARD FUSELAGE SECTION DAMAGED.  THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS NOT INJURED.  THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES, WITH SPINAL COMPRESSION AND BROKEN VERTEBRAE, REQUIRING AN EXTENSIVE (8 DAY) STAY IN THE HOSPITAL.  THIS ACCIDENT WAS ORIGINALLY TREATED AS AN INCIDENT BASED ON THE INFORMATION GIVEN BY THE PILOT AND CHANGED TO AN ACCIDENT ONCE THE TRUE EXTENT OF THE PASSENGER'S INJURIES AND DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS KNOWN. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE PILOT HELD A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, LAST RECORDED MEDICAL WAS ISSUED 11/94.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA98LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA032), Nov 3, 1997: Piper PA-28-151 (N4502X), Clarksville, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper flare and touchdown.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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