# NTSB ATL92LA083: Piper PA-24-180, N5112P, Moontown, AL, April 19, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 19, 1992, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Moontown, AL
- Coordinates: 34.750614, -86.649276 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7506&lon=-86.6493&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8589
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8589/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA083

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE REFERENCE AIRSPEED ON LANDING, IMPROPER USE OF THE WHEEL BRAKES, AND HIS DELAY IN EXECUTING AN ABORTED LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE WET RUNWAY SURFACE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - terrain condition - high vegetation
  - airspeed(vref) - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE 2400 FOOT LONG TURF RUNWAY WAS WET. WINDS WERE LIGHT & VARIABLE. AFTER LANDING, THE FLAPS WERE RETRACTED & THE BRAKES APPLIED. THE AIRPLANE SLID FOR ABOUT 1000 FEET WITHOUT SLOWING. A GO-AROUND WAS BEGUN DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED TO 82 MPH, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. THE LEFT WING STRUCK A HIGH CLUMP OF HEDGES AT THE RUNWAY END, YAWED OUT OF CONTROL, THEN COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5112P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5112P-1995-05-08), registration cancelled 1995-05-08, S/N 24124 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-124
- Airframe hours: 4200
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Akins, Robert D.
- Registered owner: Akins, Robert D.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 1992, 200 hours before
- Departed: 81J, DESTIN, FL
- Airport: 3M5, Moontown, runway 27, 2,300 × 250 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 286 total, 77 in this make and model, 54 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HSV, 20 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 19920419010439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920419010439A), Apr 19, 1992: Piper PA24, Huntsville, AL, Substantial damage. Unable to stop on wet grass strip and downwind. Tried go around but wing hit brush at end runway causing crash.

## Other investigations on N5112P (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 UNK64X0744](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0744), Feb 29, 1964: Piper PA24 (N5112P), Grand Prairie, TX, substantial damage

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.