ERA11CA402

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-161 · Crystal River, FL · July 15, 2011

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 15, 2011, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
Place
Crystal River, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N18PEPiper PA-28-161
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 27, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20110715015479A
Case key
81125

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 failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and his improper decision to perform a go-around with a tailwind and insufficient runway remaining.

Findings · 1

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.

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

The pilot stated that the approach to the runway was normal, but the airplane touched down further down the runway than he expected. He added power to take off but did not have enough airspeed and runway remaining; he subsequently reduced the engine power and applied the brakes. The airplane exited the end of the runway and impacted a fence, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall and both left and right wings. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. He stated that after the accident he looked at the windsock and there was a strong tailwind.

Factual narrative

The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight to an unfamiliar airport. He stated that as he neared the airport, he obtained information from the airport's automated weather observation system, which reported calm wind. The pilot selected runway 09, and conducted an approach to the runway in order to perform a touch and go landing. However, the pilot stated the airplane was not in a position to land, and subsequently performed a go-around. The pilot stated that the second approach was normal, but the airplane touched down on the runway further from the intended point of landing than he expected. He added power to take off, but could not become airborne within the remaining runway. The pilot reduced engine power and applied brakes, but the airplane traveled off the end of the runway and impacted a fence, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall and both left and right wings. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane and that, after the accident, the airport windsock indicated a tailwind condition. Recorded weather at the airport about the time of the accident included wind from 310 degrees at 7 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N18PE
Reported as
Piper PA-28-161
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-7816340
Engine
Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Tailwheels Etc
Registered owner
Skyway Leasing Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
GIF · Winter Haven, FL
Destination
CGC · Crystal River, FL
Airport
CGC · Crystal River Airport, runway 09, 4,555 × 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
38
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 22, 2011
Seat
Left
Flight hours
72 total · 7 in this make and model · 19 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
93 °F, dew point 79 °F
Altimeter
29.89 inHg
Observed at
CGC

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 789 KB 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.