# Accident 20231029018729A: Piper PA-28-235, Ocklawaha, FL, October 29, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 29, 2023, 13:55 local time
- Place: Ocklawaha, FL
- Airport: Woods And Lakes Airpark
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.1208° N, 81.8892° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1208&lon=-81.8892&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9159W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9159W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-235 (registry code 7102810, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 476 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA031) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231029018729A

## Narrative

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

A PIPER PA-28-235 CHEROKEE, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT DEPARTING SEBRING TO THE BASE OF OPERATION AT WOODS & LAKE AIRPARK (FA-38), IN OCKLAWAHA, FL. THE PILOT STATED THAT ATC RADIO OBSERVANCE INTO THE AREA OF OCALA/LEESBURG SQUAWKED WINDS AS STRONG AND GUSTING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PERFORMED A STANDARD DOWNWIND, BASE, TO FINAL TO LAND, THE WINDS WERE VERY STRONG SO ELECTED TO DO A GO AROUND. ON THE 2ND ATTEMPT THE PILOT LANDED LONGER THAN USUAL AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP. THE PILOT SAID THE WINDS INITIALLY HAD THE AIRCRAFT FLOATING, THEN TRANSFERRING TO A TAIL WIND PUSH. THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT STOP. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND WEATHER DATA OBTAINED IT APPEARS THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER EXPERIENCED A STRONG QUARTER TAIL WIND IN WHICH COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED AND CONSISTENT WITH THE AIRCRAFT TRACKING. ANY RUDDER INPUT DID NOT CHANGE THE COURSE THEREFORE, LOSING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT AND COINCIDENTLY AFFECTED THE AIRCRAFT CONTROL UPON LANDING, PROPELLING THE AIRCRAFT FORWARD THROUGH THE FENCING AND TOWARDS THE CULVERT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE LEFT WING IMPALED A POLE AFTER COMING THROUGH THE FENCE THEREFORE, CAUSING MID-RANGE LEADING EDGE DAMAGE TO THE SKIN SURFACE OF THE LEFT WING AS WELL AS TO THE RIBS. THE LEFT-WING LEADING EDGE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE SPAR DAMAGE FROM WHAT WAS SEEN. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE UPON HITTING THE CULVERT AND TWISTED CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE ENGINE FIREWALL SEEMED INTACT WITHOUT DAMAGE, BUT THE MOUNTS SHOW SIGNIFICANT BENDS IN MULTIPLE AREAS. THE WINDSHIELD SHOWS A BUCKLE AT CENTER FRAME AND BUCKLING NEAR THE RIGHT LOWER CORNER OF THE DOOR CONSISTENT WITH THE WING JARRING. THE RUDDER WAS DAMAGED DURING RECOVERY AND DEEMED SERIOUS HOWEVER, UNRELATED TO THE ACCIDENT ITSELF. THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE AND IS BENT. SEVERAL OTHER DINGS AND DENTS WERE EVIDENT DURING INSPECTION. THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WITH THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAVING THE MOST SERIOUS AND SUSTAINED TWO NOSE FRACTURES. THE PILOT A SMALL SUPERFICIAL WOUND ON HIS THUMB, ALL OF WHICH WERE TREATED AND RELEASED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRANSPORTED TO JACKSONVILLE AIR RECOVERY FOR DISPOSITION. NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUIRED AND WILL BE CLOSED.

## 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 ERA24LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA031), Oct 29, 2023: Piper PA-28-235 (N9159W), Ocklawaha, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent impact with a fence.

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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