# NTSB FTW97LA287: Piper PA-24-180, N7014P, Arthur City, TX, July 26, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 1997, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Arthur City, TX - Coordinates: 33.859016, -95.649612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8590&lon=-95.6496&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20296 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20296/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA287 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to abort the landing. Factors were the wet, grass runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - aborted landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that on short final the airplane was 'a little fast and [he] thought about going around,' but committed to landing. The pilot applied the brakes immediately upon landing. The grass was wet and the airplane was not going to stop before the end of the runway. The pilot reported that he made a 90-degree left turn, towards an open field, approximately 60 yards from the departure end of the runway, to avoid a large ditch located just off the departure end of the runway. The airplane contacted a tree with the right wing tip and rolled through a barbed wire fence. The airplane's left wing was resting on a fence post when the left wheel dropped into a hole which 'buckled the main spar at the outboard skin lap.' ## Factual narrative On July 26, 1997, at 0945 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-180 airplane, N7014P, registered to and operated by a private owner, was substantially damaged while landing at Parson Field, a private 2,000 foot grass air strip, near Arthur City, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. No flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight. The flight, conducted in visual meteorological conditions, departed the private air strip at 0830. The pilot stated to the NTSB representative, during a telephone interview, that this was his fourth landing that morning. On short final he said the airplane was "a little fast and thought about going around," but committed to the landing. The pilot reported that he applied the brakes immediately upon landing. The grass was wet and the airplane was not going to stop before the end of the runway. Approximately 60 yards from the departure end of the runway, the pilot turned the aircraft 90 degrees to the left toward an open field, to avoid running into a large ditch located beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane contacted a tree with the right wing tip and rolled through a barbed wire fence. The left wing was resting on top of a fence post when "the left wheel dropped into a hole which buckled the main spar at the outboard skin lap." The airplane came to rest to the left of the extended runway centerline and upright. Weather conditions at the Cox Field Airport, Paris, Texas, 25 nautical miles south of the accident site, at 0956 central daylight time, were visual conditions. The visibility was 10 statute miles, the sky was clear, and winds were reported from 230 degrees at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7014P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7014P), registered now, S/N 24-2162, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2162 - Airframe hours: 3300 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Billy R. Copeland - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 1997, 7 hours before - Airport: NONE, Parson Field, runway 15, 2,000 × 85 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 570 total, 10 in this make and model, 495 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PRX, 25 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 19970726046459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970726046459A), Jul 26, 1997: Piper PA24, Arthurcity, TX, No damage. (-23) The owner pilot was on a pleasure flight and landed on his private airstrip and could not stop due to wet grass. The aircraft sustained damage to the… 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.