# NTSB ATL89LA210: Piper PA-24-260, N666KH, Hanceville, AL, September 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1989, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Hanceville, AL
- Coordinates: 34.059818, -86.759269 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0598&lon=-86.7593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8064
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA210
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8064/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA210

## Probable cause

IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT/OWNER AND HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED FOR THE GO-AROUND; AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (OTHER CREW MEMBER). THE UNEVEN SURFACE OF THE PRIVATE STRIP WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, other crewmember (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - recovery from bounced landing
  - go-around - initiated
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - inadequate, other crewmember (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER PURCHASING THE ACFT, THE PREV OWNER WAS FLOWN BACK TO HIS HOME, THEN THE NEW OWNER & AN INSTRUCTOR (CFI) FLEW TO CULLMAN, AL. ON THIS FLT, THE NEW OWNER INTENDED TO 'GET CURRENT' & ACCOMPLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR A BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW, ALTHOUGH HE HAD PREVIOUSLY OWNED A PA-24-250. AT CULLMAN, THEY PRACTICED LNDGS & AIRWORK, THEN LNDD & REFUELED BEFORE FLYING TO THE OWNER'S PVT STRIP TO HANGAR THE ACFT. AFTER 2 APCHS AT THE PVT STRIP, THEY ELECTED TO LND. RPRTDLY, THE APCH WAS GOOD UNTIL THE CFI SUGGESTED THE OWNER 'CHOP' THE POWER TO LND. THE ACFT THEN SETTLED, TOUCHED DOWN HARD & BOUNCED. THE CFI TOLD THE OWNER TO GO AROUND. THE OWNER INITIATED A GO-AROUND WHILE THE CFI OPERD THE GEAR & FLAPS. THE OWNER RPRTD THE ACFT WAS TOO SLOW, WAS BHND THE PWR CURVE & WOULDN'T CLIMB ENOUGH TO CLR A KNOLL BYD THE END OF THE RWY.IT IMPACTED ON THE KNOLL & CAME TO REST. THE OWNER SUFFERED A FRACTURED VERTEBRA. THE CFI RPRTD THAT DRG THE LNDG, THE ACFT BOUNCED WHEN IT CONTACTED A SMALL MOUND IN THE TOUCHDOWN AREA OF THE PVT STRIP. ON THIS FLT, THE OWNER WAS PIC.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N666KH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N666KH), registered now, S/N 24-5026, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (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: 245026
- Airframe hours: 1770
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Haynes, Ernie H.
- Registered owner: Ernie H Haynes
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 1989, 15 hours before
- Departed: 3A1, CULLMAN, AL
- Airport: Ernie Haynes Pvt Strip, runway 36, 1,400 × 110 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,005 total, 564 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19890902033539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890902033539A), Sep 2, 1989: Piper PA24260, Hanceville, AL, Substantial damage. Landed hard on short strip. Bounced,tried to go around,unable to clear rising terrain. Had just purchased aircraft.

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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