# NTSB ATL97LA132: Piper PA-28-151, N9643K, Bennettsville, SC, September 20, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 1997, 13:05 local (17:05 UTC) - Place: Bennettsville, SC - Coordinates: 34.629421, -79.680458 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6294&lon=-79.6805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 26, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3900 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3900/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA132 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to properly plan his approach, and his failure to attain a proper touchdown point for landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - object - aircraft parked/standing - maneuver to avoid obstructions - object - other - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - Nose over, other ## Analysis The pilot of a Piper PA-28-151 made an approach to land at a private airport. According to him, the airplane touched down after 'quite a bit of float.' The pilot stated he saw another airplane parked on the runway a short distance ahead, then he applied left rudder to avoid the parked airplane. As he passed the other airplane, the left wing tip of his airplane struck a hand rail, then the airplane turned left into a gulch and nosed over. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot did not properly plan his approach to landing at the airport. The PA-28-151 Owner's Manual showed that the airplane's required landing distance was approximately 1,100 feet. The runway was 2,300 feet in length. According to the pilot, the other airplane was parked about 550 feet from the departure end of the runway. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 1997, about 1305 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA28-151, N9643K, crashed on rollout after landing at a private sod landing strip near Bennettsville, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the pilot, he landed at the private airport after "quite a bit of float". The runway had a "hill" in the middle which made it difficult to see the entire runway when landing. As he rolled over the hill, the pilot stated he saw another airplane parked on the runway a short distance ahead. The pilot then applied left rudder in order to avoid the parked airplane. As he passed the other airplane, the Piper's left wing tip struck a hand rail and turned left into a gulch. The airplane came to rest nosed over in the gulch. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot did not properly plan his approach to landing at the airport. According to the PA-28-151 owner's manual, the airplane's landing distance on a standard day, at maximum gross weight, with a 50 foot obstacle, and on a asphalt runway should be approximately 1,100 feet. Grass runways generally decrease the landing distance approximately 2-3%. The runway at Stanton was 2,300 feet. According to the pilot, the other airplane was parked about 550 feet from the departure end of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9643K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9643K-1999-01-19), registration cancelled 1999-01-19, S/N 287615222 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 76-15222 - Airframe hours: 1805 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E30 151 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard Sanderson - Registered owner: Bruce Baxter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1997, 68 hours before - Departed: 8A6, CHARLOTTE, NC - Airport: Stanton, runway 12, 2,300 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 329 total, 55 in this make and model, 149 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FLO, 25 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 19970920027779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970920027779A), Sep 20, 1997: Piper PA28151, Bennettsville, SC, Substantial damage. On September 20, 1997, about 1305 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA280151, N9634K, crashed on rollout after landing at a private sod landing strip near… 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.