# NTSB ERA22LA202: Piper PA32, N9583C, Fountain Inn, SC, April 25, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 25, 2022, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Fountain Inn, SC - Coordinates: 34.723519, -82.099243 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7235&lon=-82.0992&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): 104997 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104997/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104997 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA202 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to obtain the proper touchdown point during landing, which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with a fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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-32-300, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103212), [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-32-300, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to land on a 2,250-ft long uphill turf runway with a 7 knot tailwind. He reported that during the landing flare, his groundspeed was higher than expected for a normal touchdown point. The pilot did not perform a go-around as he was concerned about clearing power lines at the end of the runway. The airplane subsequently touched down, overran the departure end of the runway, and collided with a fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9583C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9583C-2022-08-11), registration cancelled 2022-08-11, S/N 32-7840103, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA32 (300) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7840103 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 4521 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 2021 - Departed: LQK, Liberty, SC - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: None, Whittaker Field, runway 05, 2,250 × 60 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review March 19, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,550 total, 2,300 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: GYH, 14 nm away - METAR: KGYH 251347Z 25012KT 10SM FEW025 21/17 A3020 ## 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 20220425005809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220425005809A), Apr 25, 2022: Piper PA-32-300, Fountain Inn, SC, Substantial damage. On April 25, 2022 at approximately 1015 hours (local), N9583C, a PA-32 was attempting to land at Whittaker Field in Fountain Inn, SC. The PIC circled the field… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104997. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13826283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 354 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13827480&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. --- 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.