# NTSB ATL99LA052: Piper PA-46-350P, N345RP, Laurens, SC, March 14, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 14, 1999, 15:50 local (20:50 UTC) - Place: Laurens, SC - Coordinates: 34.499382, -82.020431 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4994&lon=-82.0204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45893 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45893/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA052 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - disregarded, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N345RP), registered now, S/N 4622096, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-46-350P - Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-540-series) (registry code 41569, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4622096 - Airframe hours: 2202 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990314024679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990314024679A), Mar 14, 1999: Piper PA46350P, Laurens, SC, Substantial damage. (.4) 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… ## Other investigations on N345RP (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC08CA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA169), Apr 22, 2008: Piper PA-46-350P (N345RP), Chapel Hill, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the gusty wind conditions. 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.