- 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.
On this page
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.
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.