# NTSB ERA09CA518: Piper PA46, N664RS, Chamblee, GA, September 14, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 13, 2009, 20:02 local (Sep 14, 2009, 00:02 UTC) - Place: Chamblee, GA - Coordinates: 33.875556, -84.30194 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8756&lon=-84.3019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 74720 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA518 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74720/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74720 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA518 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. Contributing to the accident was pilot fatigue. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Alertness/Fatigue](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After having trouble maintaining altitude and aligning the airplane with the localizer, the pilot conducted a visual approach for Runway 20L. The aircraft touched down and continued off the end of the runway, striking localizer equipment and substantially damaging the left wing. No mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot or identified postaccident. The recorded winds on the field were calm approximately 15 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported that he had been ill for several days prior to the accident, and postaccident medical testing revealed that he was dehydrated due to the illness. Additionally, the pilot reported that he did not eat anything on the day of the accident. The pilot was airborne for approximately 8 hours, including fuel stops and periods of maneuvering due to weather. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot held a third-class medical certificate with a limitation for his diabetic condition. ## Factual narrative After having trouble maintaining altitude and aligning the airplane with the localizer, the pilot conducted a visual approach for runway 20L. The aircraft touched down, and continued off the end of the runway, striking localizer equipment, which substantially damaged the left wing. No mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot or identified post-accident. The recorded winds on the field were calm approximately 15 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported he had been ill for several days prior to the accident, and post-accident medical testing revealed he was dehydrated due to the illness. Additionally, the pilot reported he did not eat anything on the day of the accident. The pilot was airborne for approximately 8 hours, including fuel stops and periods of maneuvering due to weather. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot held a third-class medical certificate with a limitation for his diabetic condition. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N664RS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N664RS), registered now, S/N 4636313, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA46 (350P) - Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4636313 - Airframe hours: 1224 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO540 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard T. Smith - Registered owner: Malibu, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2009 - Departed: PHT, Paris, TN - Destination: PDK, Chamblee, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PDK, DeKalb-Peachtree, runway 20L, 6,001 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 3,648 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 3,648 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KPDK ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74720. 478 KB in all. - Airport Diagram (item 1, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320869&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320871&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320887&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320910&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.