- Date
- May 27, 2017, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Gilbert, SC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5544JPiper PA28
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 7, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA/ FSDO
- FAA report
- 20170527004909A
- Case key
- 95303
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 improper glidepath in variable wind conditions, which resulted in the airplane impacting terrain short of the runway threshold.
Findings · 3
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 reported that, during the final approach to land, the airplane encountered a "swirling wind due to [the] high trees on final approach." Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain about 10 to 12 ft short of the runway threshold, the nosewheel collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop as it continued forward onto the runway. The engine mount sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station, about 12 nautical miles from the accident airport, recorded wind from 130° at 7 knots. The pilot reported that the landing was on runway 27.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during the final approach to land, the airplane encountered a "swirling wind due to [the] high trees on final approach." Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain about 10 to 12 ft. short of the runway threshold, the nose wheel collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop as it continued forward onto the runway. The engine mount sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station, about 12 nautical miles from the accident airport, recorded wind from 130° at 7 knots. The pilot reported that the landing was on runway 27.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5544J
- Reported as
- Piper PA28 (140)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-22075
- Built
- 1966
- Airframe hours
- 2,865
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- SC99 · Gilbert, SC
- Destination
- SC99 · Gilbert, SC
- Airport
- SC99 · Whiteplains, runway 27, 3,000 × 35 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
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
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- BasicMed
- Last flight review
- May 17, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,046 total · 60 in this make and model · 7.1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 18,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- KCAE, 12 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.0 MB 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.
Other investigations on N5544J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.