# NTSB LAX92LA402: Piper PA-32-300, N3410M, Gasquet, CA, September 25, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 25, 1992, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Gasquet, CA
- Coordinates: 41.839653, -123.849678 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8397&lon=-123.8497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27776
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA402
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27776/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA402

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO RECEIVE AVAILABLE WIND INFORMATION AND SELECTED THE WRONG LANDING RUNWAY.  A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR RELATED TO HIS EXPECTING THE LOCAL WIND TO BE COMING FROM THE SAME DIRECTION AS IT HAD BEEN REPORTED AT A NEIGHBORING AIRPORT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - tailwind
  - wind information - not received, pilot in command (cause)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - expectancy, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
  - object - fence
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE RECEIVED WIND INFORMATION FOR AN AIRPORT NEAR HIS DESTINATION, AND THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM THE NORTHWEST.  UPON ARRIVING AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT THE PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD A 'MIND SET FOR RUNWAY 24.' THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN LONG ON THE RUNWAY.  UNABLE TO STOP, THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE RUNWAY'S END, COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN, A FENCE AND A TREE.  THE PILOT FURTHER INDICATED THAT HIS DECISION TO SELECT RUNWAY 24 WAS RELATED TO THE FACT THAT THE WIND SOCK AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY WAS LIMP.  THE WINDSOCK AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY INDICATED A 10 KNOT TAILWIND EXISTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3410M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3410M-1992-12-07), registration cancelled 1992-12-07, S/N 327840064 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7840064
- Airframe hours: 1895
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K165 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Howard Toner
- Registered owner: Howard Toner
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 1992, 4 hours before
- Departed: CCR, CONCORD, CA
- Airport: 009, Ward, runway 24, 2,990 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 301 total, 174 in this make and model, 220 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19920925039019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920925039019A), Sep 25, 1992: Piper PA32300, Gasquet, CA, Substantial damage. Landed downwind. Overran runway. Hit fence and trees. Failed get current wind and or timely go around.

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.

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