# NTSB LAX00LA117: Piper PA-46-310, N43412, Palo Alto, CA, March 5, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 5, 2000, 12:27 local (20:27 UTC) - Place: Palo Alto, CA - Coordinates: 37.449569, -122.099311 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4496&lon=-122.0993&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48783 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48783/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to obtain/maintain the proper visual glide path resulting in an undershoot and collision with the runway edge. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper glidepath - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - airport/facilities - exposed runway lip/edge ## Analysis The airplane landed approximately 2 feet short of the runway, and then struck the lip of the pavement, which sheered off the left main gear. The gear itself hung onto the trunnion by the brake lines until the airplane came to rest, approximately 600 feet down the runway. Additionally, the airplane struck a taxiway sign with the left wing while it was traveling down the runway. The pilot told investigators that he was planning on landing on runway 30 and was using 85 knots as his target speed. He said that about 100 feet agl he noticed that he had an excessive sink rate and noticed that his airspeed was about 97 knots. He decided to trade his airspeed to cut the sink rate and said by the time he noticed it wasn't working, he was already on the ground. ## Factual narrative On March 5, 2000, at 1227 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-46-310, N43412, collided with terrain short of runway 30 at Palo Alto, California. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot and his passenger were not injured. No flight plan was filed for the pleasure flight. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight had departed from Santa Rosa, California, at 1115, and was destined for Palo Alto. According to the pilot, the airplane landed approximately 2 feet short of the runway, and then struck the lip of the pavement, which sheered off the left main gear. The gear itself hung onto the trunnion by the brake lines until the airplane came to rest approximately 600 feet down the runway. Additionally, the airplane struck a taxiway sign with the left wing while it was traveling down the runway. The pilot told investigators that he was planning on landing on runway 30 and was using 85 knots as his target speed. He said that about 100 feet agl he noticed that he had an excessive sink rate and noticed that his airspeed was about 97 knots. He decided to trade his airspeed to cut the sink rate and said by the time he noticed it wasn't working, he was already on the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43412](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43412), registered now, S/N 46-8408034, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-46-310 - Registry model: [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p) (registry code 7104605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 8408034 - Airframe hours: 1923 - Engines: Continental TSIO520 BE1G 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joseph J. Grzebik - Registered owner: Joseph J. Grzebik - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1999, 66 hours before - Departed: STS, SANTA ROSA, CA - Destination: PAO - Airport: PAO, Palo Alto, runway 30, 2,500 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 12 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: KPA, 1 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 20000305010139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000305010139A), Mar 5, 2000: Piper PA46310P, Palo Alto, CA, No damage. (-23) The pilot stated that on final approach to the runway, he closed the throttle to idle at approximately 400 feet. He stated that he was unable to arrest… 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.