# NTSB ATL02LA005: Piper PA-32-300, N4033W, Lake Wales, FL, October 24, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 24, 2001, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Lake Wales, FL - Coordinates: 27.950277, -81.599723 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9503&lon=-81.5997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53683 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53683/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA005 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to land on a wet sod runway which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing. Factors were the wet grass strip which allowed the airplane to hydroplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft performance,hydroplaning condition (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while landing on a private grass strip, the airplane hydroplaned and veered off the left side of the runway striking a fence. The pilot said that it had rained earlier and the grass strip was wet with some standing water. The pilot did not report over flying the grass strip prior to landing to determine the landing surface condition. ## Factual narrative On October 24, 2001, at 1515 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N4033W, registered to and operated by the private pilot, collided with a fence during landing at the Lake Wales, Chalet Suzanne Airport in Lake Wales, Florida. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and passenger were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Vandenberg, Florida, at 1330. According to the pilot, he made a normal left hand pattern approach to the private runway. Just prior to his arrival a heavy down pour had soaked the field. The pilot did not report over flying the grass strip prior to landing to determine the landing surface condition. As he touched down on the runway the airplane started veering to the right side of the runway. He applied rudder to correct then the airplane veered to the left side of the runway and started hydroplaning out of control. He attempted to correct with no response. The airplane skidded off the runway through a small ditch and a wire fence and came to a stop off the field in a nose down attitude. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane prior to the accident. The post-accident examination of the airplane also failed to reveal a mechanical problem with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4033W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4033W), registered now, S/N 32-40055, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-40055 - Airframe hours: 3944 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Smudley D. Perry - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 2001, 90 hours before - Departed: X16, Vandenburg, FL - Destination: X25, Lake Wales, FL - Airport: PVT, Private Strip, runway 36, 3,500 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 9, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 179 total, 55 in this make and model, 120 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: TPA, 45 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20011024029219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011024029219A), Oct 24, 2001: Piper PA32300, Lake Wales, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) After landing on a grass strip with standing water on the runway, pilot lost directional control and exited on left side of runway and went thru a wire… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.