ATL99LA052

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-46-350P · Laurens, SC · March 14, 1999

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 14, 1999, 15:50 local (20:50 UTC)
Place
Laurens, SC
Injuries
6 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N345RPPiper PA-46-350P
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 25, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19990314024679A
Case key
45893

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 disregard for current wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control during landing. Factors were the tailwind and wet runway surface.

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.

On ground/water encounter with weatherLanding - roll
Weather condition - tailwindFactor
In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandCause
Compensation for wind conditions - disregardedPilot in commandCause
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - wetFactor

Analysis

According to the pilot, after the touchdown on runway 26, the pilot reported that the braking action did not appear to slow the landing roll speed and a tailwind was encountered on the roll out. The pilot then pulled back on the yoke, at which point the airplane climbed up slightly on the left side and impacted the ground. The airplane began to skid and continued off the left side of the wet runway. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane and a review of weather data from the nearest reporting facility disclosed that, the prevailing winds at the approximate time of the accident were 020 degrees at five knots with gusts to 19 knots. The pilot landed with a tailwind component.

Factual narrative

On March 14, 1999, at 1550, eastern standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N345RP, collided with the ground, according to the pilot, during the landing roll at the Laurens County Airport in Laurens, South Carolina. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Instrument weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, the airplane sustained substantial airframe damage. The commercial pilot and his five passengers were not injured. The pilot reported that the flight departed Darlington, South Carolina, at 1500.

According to the pilot, upon arriving at the Laurens County Airport, he established a final approach to runway 26. After the touchdown on the wet runway surface, the pilot reported that the braking action did not appear to slow the landing roll speed and a tailwind was encountered. The pilot then pulled back on the yoke, at which point the airplane climbed up slightly on the left side and impacted the ground. The airplane began to skid and continued off the left side of the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. A review of weather data from the nearest reporting facility disclosed that, the prevailing winds at the approximate time of the accident were 020 degrees at five knots with gusts to 19 knots.

According to the pilot, the airplane sustained substantial damage consisting of, bending of both left and right main wing spars, damage to the engine firewall, twisting of the fuselage, and separation of the nosewheel from the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N345RP
Reported as
Piper PA-46-350P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
4622096
Airframe hours
2,202
Engine
Lycoming TIO-540-AEZA, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Ralph F. Patterson Jr.
Registered owner
Annie Aviation Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 9, 1999 · 24 hours before
Departed
UDG · Darlington, SC
Destination
34A · Laurens, SC
Airport
34A · Laurens County, runway 26, 3,900 × 50 ft, asphalt

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
47
Certificates
Private, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,627 total · 94 in this make and model · 40 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
20° at 5 knots, gusting 19
Visibility
1.25 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
300 ft overcast
Temperature
39 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
AND, 48 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 N345RP · 1

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