19991204043869A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-140 · Pelzer, SC · December 4, 1999

Date: December 4, 1999 · 11:30 local
Place: Pelzer, SC
Airport: Sky Valley Airpark Airport
Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3848K
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA00LA040
Reported as: Piper PA28140
Reported engine: Lycoming O320E2A
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 300 total125 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days

N3848KRegistration cancelled Jul 28, 2000 · Piper PA-28-140S/N 28-23748 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-140

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)Statements by both the student pilot and a private pilot-ra ted passenger reveal that, although the airstrip's wind sock indicated light surface winds, on final approach, the airplane's ground speed appeared excessive and on landing flare, the airplane floated or 'ballooned' for an excessive distance. The student pilot performed a go-around, and collided with trees and a utility pole. The student pilot stated he experienced no mechanical difficulties with the airplane. Federal air regulations part 61.89, paragraph (a), states that , 'a student pilot may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying a passenger.' (-23) student pilot was attempting to land at SC32. The aircraft touched down twice but bounced back into the air. The student pilot attempted a GO0AROUND. The aircraft struck a tree at the end of the runway and a utility pole before coming to rest. The aircraft sustained major damage. No post crash fire. The pilots sustained minor injuries.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)STATEMENTS BY BOTH THE STUDENT PILOT AND A PRIVATE PILOT-RA TED PASSENGER REVEAL THAT, ALTHOUGH THE AIRSTRIP'S WIND SOCK INDICATED LIGHT SURFACE WINDS, ON FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE'S GROUND SPEED APPEARED EXCESSIVE AND ON LANDING FLARE, THE AIRPLANE FLOATED OR 'BALLOONED' FOR AN EXCESSIVE DISTANCE. THE STUDENT PILOT PERFORMED A GO-AROUND, AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AND A UTILITY POLE. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED HE EXPERIENCED NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. FEDERAL AIR REGULATIONS PART 61.89, PARAGRAPH (A), STATES THAT , 'A STUDENT PILOT MAY NOT ACT AS PILOT IN COMMAND OF AN AIRCRAFT THAT IS CARRYING A PASSENGER.' (-23) STUDENT PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT SC32. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN TWICE BUT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR. THE STUDENT PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO0AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND A UTILITY POLE BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. NO POST CRASH FIRE. THE PILOTS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA00LA040Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPelzer, SCThe student pilot's failure to recognize and compensate for changing wind conditions while on final approach and landing and his failure to initiate a timely go-around, resulting in collision with trees and a utility pole.Dec 4, 1999 · Substantial damage