- 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.