ERA11CA171

NTSB accident investigation · Aerostar PA-60-601P · Princeton, NJ · February 25, 2011

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
February 25, 2011, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
Place
Princeton, NJ
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N444TTAerostar PA-60-601P
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 21, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20110225002839A
Case key
78471

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to stop the airplane resulting in a runway overrun.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotSmith AEROSTAR 601P: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause
Aircraft capability: braking capabilityAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationSmith AEROSTAR 601P: 1 caseAll aircraft: 57 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

Before he arrived in the vicinity of the destination airport, the pilot checked the wind at a nearby airport which was reported to be at 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots. Additionally, the on-board global positioning system (GPS) receiver depicted the wind from 010 degrees at 12 knots. The pilot executed a GPS approach to runway 28; maintaining 120 knots with 20 degrees of flaps extended, and before landing noted the wind sock was not fully extended. He extended full flaps about 1 mile from the runway, and slowed to 100 knots, then crossed the threshold at 80 knots. The airplane touched down about 75 knots on the wet runway, and the pilot gently applied the brakes. He reported that he was unable to press the brakes hard as the airplane started hydroplaning approximately 1,000 feet before the end of the runway. Unable to stop, the airplane rolled past the departure end of the runway, where the nose landing gear traveled into a small depression causing it to twist. The forward pressure bulkhead was later found to be cracked. The pilot reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction. The airport was equipped with an automated weather observing system (AWOS). A total of 12 observations were recorded for the approximate time of the accident. Review of the 12 observations indicated the wind was from 230 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 18 knots.

Factual narrative

Before approach to the destination airport, the pilot checked the wind at a nearby airport which was reported to be at 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots. Additionally, the on-board global positioning system (GPS) receiver depicted the wind from 010 degrees at 12 knots. He executed a GPS approach to runway 28, maintaining 120 knots with 20 degrees of flaps extended, and before landing noted the wind sock was not fully extended. He extended full flaps about 1 mile from the runway, and slowed to 100 knots, then crossed the threshold at 80 knots. The airplane touched down about 75 knots on the wet runway, and he "gently applied the [brakes] on touchdown. I was unable to do hard [braking]." The airplane started hydroplaning approximately 1,000 feet before the end of the runway. Unable to stop, the airplane rolled past the departure end of the runway, where the nose landing gear traveled into a small depression causing it to twist. The forward pressure bulkhead was later found to be cracked. The pilot reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction. The airport is equipped with an automated weather observing system (AWOS). A total of 12 observations were recorded for the approximate time of the accident (1130 local, or 1630 UTC). Review of the 12 observations indicated the wind was from 230 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 18 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N444TT
Reported as
Aerostar PA-60-601P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
61P-0444-168
Airframe hours
2,992
Engine
Lycoming IO-540 Series, 290 hp, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Bravo Aviation, LLC
Registered owner
Bravo Aviation, LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 19, 2010
Departed
PIB · Hattiesburg, MS
Destination
39N · Princeton, NJ
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
39N · Princeton Airport, runway 28, 3,499 × 75 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
58
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
February 20, 2010
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,364 total · 158 in this make and model · 1,292 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
230° at 8 knots, gusting 18
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
29.30 inHg
Observed at
39N

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.