ATL97LA144

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-22-160 · Belleview, FL · September 28, 1997

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 28, 1997, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
Place
Belleview, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N3402ZPiper PA-22-160
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 30, 1998
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19970928037659A
Case key
3910

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, and his delay in initiating a go-around, which resulted in a hard touchdown, loss of directional control, and collision with objects (fence and trees).

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with terrain/waterGo-around (vfr)
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Distance/speed - misjudgedPilot in commandFactor
In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandCause
Go-around - delayedPilot in commandCause
Loss of control - on ground/waterGo-around (vfr)
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding

Analysis

The pilot stated 'at about 30 feet above ground level' he was long for landing and attempted a go-around. The airplane continued to descend, and it bounced on the runway. The pilot also stated that when he pushed the yoke forward, to gain airspeed for the go-around, 'the airplane collided with the runway and went off the runway to the left where the airplane contacted a fence and some trees.' A review of current weather data from the nearest reporting facility disclosed that, the prevailing wind was from 240 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 15 knots.

Factual narrative

On September 28, 1997, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-160, N3402Z, veered off the left side of runway 18, collided with a tree, and nosed over at Norton Airstrip in Belleview, Florida. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. No flight plan was filed for the local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed the time of the accident. The private pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Ocala, Florida, at 1500.

The pilot stated "at about 30 feet above ground level" he was long for landing and attempted a go-around. The airplane continued to descend and bounced on the runway. The pilot also stated when he pushed the yoke forward, to gain airspeed for the go-around, "the airplane collided with the runway and went off the runway to the left where the airplane contacted a fence and some trees".

During the wreckage examination, there was no disclosure of any mechanical problems with the airplane. A review of current weather data from the nearest reporting facility disclosed that, the prevailing winds were 240 degrees at 10 knots with wind gusting to 15 knots. Runway 18 was the active runway at Norton Airstrip when the accident occurred.

Aircraft

Registration
N3402Z
Reported as
Piper PA-22-160
Category
Airplane
Serial number
22-7313
Engine
Lycoming O-320 AIA, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Allen D O'Cull
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 25, 1996
Departed
OCF · Ocala, FL
Destination
8FL2
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
8FL2 · Norton Airstrip, runway 18, 2,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
39
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
126 total · 106 in this make and model · 100 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 10 knots, gusting 16
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
OCF, 10 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.

Other investigations on N3402Z · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.