# NTSB FTW99LA175: Piper PA-23-250, N6617Y, Cabot, AR, June 25, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 1999, 18:47 local (23:47 UTC) - Place: Cabot, AR - Coordinates: 34.959186, -92.019828 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9592&lon=-92.0198&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46662 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46662/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA175 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to attain the proper touchdown point during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command(cfi) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis During the dual instructional flight, with the flight instructor at the controls, the twin-engine airplane landed halfway down the 2,640-foot sod runway. As it neared the east end of the runway, the aircraft was intentionally 'ground looped' to keep it from crossing a road and going into trees. The aircraft exited the runway to the left, crossed a ditch, and came to a stop in the eastbound lane of a highway. The pilot, who was being checked out in the airplane, reported that after touchdown, the flaps were retracted, and the brakes were applied. However, there 'appeared to be no brakes.' The brakes were pumped, and again there 'appeared to be no brakes.' An FAA inspector examined the brakes and performed an operational check. No preexisting anomalies were found, and the brakes functioned properly. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 1999, approximately 1847 central daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250 twin-engine airplane, N6617Y, owned and operated by Odom Aviation, Inc., of Cabot, Arkansas, was substantially damaged during landing roll at the Odom Field Airport near Cabot, Arkansas. The flight instructor and the airline transport rated pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight departed the Carlisle Municipal Airport, Carlisle, Arkansas, at approximately 1825. The operator reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that the purpose of the flight was for the airline transport rated pilot to receive a check out in the aircraft. The operator further reported that the airline transport rated pilot was at the controls of the aircraft at the time of the accident; however, the flight instructor reported to the FAA inspector that he was the pilot at the controls. The airline transport rated pilot reported to the FAA inspector that the aircraft landed to the west on the 2,640-foot sod runway, at approximately 75 mph. After touchdown, the flaps were retracted, and the brakes were applied. However, there "appeared to be no brakes." The brakes were pumped, and again there "appeared to be no brakes." As the aircraft neared the east end of the runway, "the aircraft was ground looped to keep from crossing Kerr Road and going into the trees." The aircraft exited the runway to the left, crossed a ditch, and came to a stop in the eastbound lane of Highway 321. A witness reported to the FAA inspector that the airplane landed halfway down the runway. Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed that the left and right main landing gear had collapsed damaging their respective wing spars. The FAA inspector examined the brakes and performed an operational check. No preexisting anomalies were found, and the brakes functioned properly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6617Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6617Y-2018-01-25), registration cancelled 2018-01-25, S/N 27-3923, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-3923 - Airframe hours: 8177 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Odom Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Odom Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 10, 1999, 13 hours before - Departed: M89, ARKADELPHIA, AR - Destination: AR28 - Airport: AR28, Odom Field, runway 27, 2,640 × 70 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 7,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LIT, 20 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 19990625007759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990625007759A), Jun 25, 1999: Piper PA23250, Cabot, AR, Substantial damage. Acft brakes failed on landing, and the acft rolled into a ditch, damaged the landing gear, and slid onto a highway. (-23) while landing on a sod landing strip… 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.