# NTSB BFO94LA132: Piper PA-28-181, N8505E, Waynesboro, VA, August 11, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 1994, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Waynesboro, VA - Coordinates: 38.059562, -78.900123 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0596&lon=-78.9001&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report March 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8956 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8956/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA132 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF SPEED AND DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING OVERRUN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S DELAY IN INTIATING A GO-AROUND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH HE REALIZED THAT HIS GROUND SPEED WAS HIGHER THAN HIS AIRSPEED. HE STATED THAT AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 50 TO 100 FEET HE DECIDED TO GO-AROUND, BUT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN LONG AND EXITED THE RUNWAY COLLIDING WITH A FENCE. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT MADE AN EXTREMELY HIGH APPROACH, AND THE PILOT INITIATED A SLIP TO LOSE ALTITUDE. ANOTHER WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 250 TO 400 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY DEPARTURE END WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN. AN FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND THE ACCIDENT SITE STATED THAT THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES AFTER TOUCHING DOWN LONG, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WHEN HE EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 1994, at 1500 eastern daylight time, N8505E, a Piper PA-28-181, exited the runway and collided with the ground during landing at Eagles Nest Airport, Waynesboro, Virginia. The certificated private pilot and his three passengers received minor injuries while the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The personal flight was operated under 14 CFR 91 and originated in Georgetown, South Carolina. The destination was Waynesboro, Virginia. According to the pilot, he entered the traffic pattern and the airplane was at an altitude of 2000 feet MSL on final approach. He stated that he continued his approach to runway 6 and at about 50 to 100 feet above the ground, "I realized my ground speed was higher than my airspeed...I decided to go around, I advanced the throttle and the engine sputtered. I realized the engine was not going to produce sufficient power for a go-around...I pulled the power back and put the airplane on the runway with approximately 1000 feet of runway left." A witness reported that, "...the airplane made an extremely high approach and the pilot initiated a slip to lose altitude. Aircraft touched down at approximately 250 to 400 feet from the end of the runway." The aircraft exited the runway over a hill, through a fence and collided with a ditch. An FAA Aviation Safety Inspector reported that the pilot applied the brakes after touching down, but the airplane continued beyond the end of the runway off the 500 foot grass overrun and stopped about 200 yards beyond the airport boundary. He also stated that there was no evidence of mechanical malfunction noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8505E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8505E-1997-10-14), registration cancelled 1997-10-14, S/N 287690176 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7690176 - Airframe hours: 3090 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: White Sands Leasing Inc. - Registered owner: White Sands Leasing Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GCE, GEORGETOWN, SC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: W13, Eagles Nest, runway 6, 2,000 × 50 ft, macadam ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 109 total, 4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SHD, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940811021199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940811021199A), Aug 11, 1994: Piper PA28181, Waynesboro, VA, Substantial damage. Landed last third of runway. Began go around. Overboosted engine failed respond. Ran off end runway into a fence. 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.