# NTSB ERA21LA067: Piper PA23, N78329, Milton, FL, December 6, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 6, 2020, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Milton, FL
- Coordinates: 30.637621, -86.993653 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6376&lon=-86.9937&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102401
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102401/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102401
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA067

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point and his landing with a high approach speed, which resulted in a runway overrun.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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-23-250, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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-23-250, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot/owner was conducting a no-flap landing in the multiengine airplane. The pilot stated that the left main landing gear brake failed on rollout, and the airplane then overran the end of the 3,701-foot-long runway. The left wing struck part of the runway’s lighting system, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s left wing. A witness stated that the airplane landed with at a high speed and touched down at/about midfield. A cursory examination of the airplane’s brakes following the accident revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions for failures that would have precluded normal operation. Review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that the airplane did not have a current annual inspection. Further, the pilot did not hold a multi-engine rating for airplanes, did maintain a personal flight logbook, did not have an endorsement documenting a flight review (or other equivalent proficiency) within the preceding 24 calendar months. Based on the pilot’s lack of certification to operate multiengine airplane and proof of recent flight history, he was likely not proficient in operating the airplane. Further, he likely landed long and fast with insufficient runway remaining to slow down, which resulted in the runway overrun.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78329](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78329), registered now, S/N 27-2329 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA23 (250)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-2329
- Airframe hours: 3866.14
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 reciprocating; Lycoming O-540-A1D5 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: None; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 8, 2011
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 2R4, Peter Prince Field Airport, runway 18, 3,701 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 161 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: NDZ, 4 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 20201206019269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201206019269A), Dec 6, 2020: Piper PA-23-250, Milton, FL, Substantial damage. Airman was landing on runway 18 after first flight around pattern. After touchdown airman was unable to slow the airplane in order to turn off on taxiway.…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 18, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102401. 3.0 MB in all.

- FAA inspector's statement and record of conversation with pilot (item 1, PDF, 5 pages, 339 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11904021&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20and%20Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA record of conversations - witnesses (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11903736&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversations%20-%20Witnessess_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA record of conversations - mechanic (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 290 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11903038&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Mechanic_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 595 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11903450&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.

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