# NTSB ATL89LA093: Piper PA-28-235, N56600, Liberty, NC, February 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 26, 1989, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Liberty, NC
- Coordinates: 35.850845, -79.570884 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8508&lon=-79.5709&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7991
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7991/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA093

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT LANDING AT THE WRONG AIRPORT, CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPORT PERSONNEL TO NOTIFY THE FAA OF THE EXISTANCE OF THE AIRPORT SO IT COULD BE PROPERLY DESIGNATED ON AVIATION CHARTS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - charts/other manuals - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - information, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - landed at wrong airport, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE RWY DURING ROLLOUT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS LANDING AT HIS INTENDED DESTINATION ARPT. WHICH HAD A 3,000 FT LONG BY 40 FT WIDE RWY. HE LANDED INSTEAD AT A PRIVATE, PAVED AIRSTRIP LOCATED ABOUT 1 TO 2 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION ARPT. THE AIRSTRIP RWY WAS ORIENTED THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE DESTINATION ARPT, BUT WAS ONLY 1,000 FT LONG BY 20 FT WIDE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT FLOWN IN THE AREA BEFORE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FAA HAD NO RECORD OF THE AIRSTRIP, AND THAT IT WAS NOT NOTED ON CHARTS OR IN THE ARPT/FACILITY DIRECTORY. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARPT OWNER REPORTED THAT THE OWNER WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY REQUIREMENT TO NOTIFY THE FAA OF THE ARPT. THE AIRSTRIP WAS ABOUT 7 YRS OLD. 14CFR157 (FAR PART 157) REQUIRES THAT ANY PERSON INTENDING TO CONSTRUCT OR ESTABLISH A NEW AIRPORT NOTIFY THE FAA OF THEIR INTENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56600](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56600), registered now, S/N 28-7410014, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7410014
- Airframe hours: 1677
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: R And R Flyers
- Registered owner: R & R Flyers
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 1988, 157 hours before
- Departed: INT, WINSTON-SALEM, NC
- Destination: 2A5, LIBERTY, NC
- Airport: NONE, Lake Juno, runway 20, 1,000 × 20 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 304 total, 161 in this make and model, 213 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19890226002609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890226002609A), Feb 26, 1989: Piper PA28235, Liberty, NC, Substantial damage. Landed near destination at wrong airport. Landed fast on the short Private strip and overran runway down embankment

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.

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