# NTSB ATL95LA068: Piper PA-60, N163GA, Linden, TN, March 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 1995, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Linden, TN - Coordinates: 35.609516, -87.840492 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6095&lon=-87.8405&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3536 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3536/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA068 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT OVERRUNNING THE RUNWAY. GUSTY WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE WET RUNWAY WERE ALSO CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - wall/barricade (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis DURING A VISUAL APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE RUNWAY END, COLLIDING WITH A CONCRETE WALL AND TREES. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO LAND TWICE, AND EXECUTED A GO-AROUND EACH TIME. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LANDED ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE 3600 FOOT RUNWAY, AND THAT THERE WERE NO MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRPLANE. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT SKID MARKS, FROM HARD BRAKING, WERE FOUND ON RUNWAY 18. ACCORDING TO THE NASHVILLE AUTOMATED FLIGHT SERVICE STATION, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THERE WAS LIGHT RAIN, AND THE WIND WAS 230 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 23 KNOTS. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 1995, about 1345 central standard time, a Piper PA-60, N163GA, overran the runway end, colliding with a concrete wall and trees, during a visual approach to the Perry County Airport, Linden, Tennessee. The airplane was operated by Grand Aire Express under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135, and visual flight rules. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been activated for the non-scheduled, domestic, cargo flight. There were minor injuries to the commercial pilot, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Richmond, Kentucky, about 1200, on the same day. According to the pilot, the flight was dispatched by Grand Aire Express on a flight from Standiford Airport, in Louisville, Kentucky to Madison, Kentucky, continuing on to Perry County Airport, Linden, Tennessee. The flight departed Standiford and arrived in Louisville without event. After landing in Madison (I39), the pilot telephoned Grand Aire Express and checked the weather for the next leg of the flight. The pilot filed an IFR flight plan, and completed two weight and balance forms, as required by his company, and departed for Perry County. Upon arriving at Perry County, the pilot had the airport, three miles, in sight, and cancelled IFR. A witness, the driver who was to pickup the airplane's cargo, stated that there were very gusty winds when the flight arrived at Linden. He reported that the pilot attempted to land twice, and executed a go-around each time. The pilot stated that he landed about halfway down the 3600 foot runway, and that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The aircraft overran the runway, and collided with a cement wall and trees. An FAA inspector reported that skid marks, from hard braking, were found on the runway, beginning about 1200 feet from the departure threshold. According to the Nashville Automated Flight Service Station, at the time of the accident, there was light rain, and the wind was 230 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 23 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N163GA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N163GA-1998-04-03), registration cancelled 1998-04-03, S/N 61P06977963333 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60 - Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-601p) (registry code 7106012) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 61P-0697 - Airframe hours: 3317 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-S1A5 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Grand Aire Express - Registered owner: Czars Incorporated - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 24, 1995, 15 hours before - Departed: I39, RICHMOND, KY - Destination: M15 - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: M15, Perry County, runway 18, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,350 total, 900 in this make and model, 2,150 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 15 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BNA, 65 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 19950320004569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950320004569A), Mar 20, 1995: Piper PA60601P, Linden, TN, Substantial damage. Tried land twice made go arounds. Then landed mid runway. Hard braking. Ran off end. Hit concrete wall and trees. 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.