# NTSB LAX93LA146: Piper PA-34-200T, N1808H, Avalon, CA, March 11, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 11, 1993, 11:05 local (19:05 UTC) - Place: Avalon, CA - Coordinates: 33.800792, -118.349449 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8008&lon=-118.3494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28356 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28356/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA146 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH, EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, AND FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPORT IS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command ## Analysis THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE MOUNTAIN TOP AIRPORT. HE EXECUTED A GO-AROUND ON THE INITIAL LANDING APPROACH. ON THE SECOND APPROACH, HE LANDED LONG AND FAST. THE PILOT APPLIED HEAVY BRAKING TO PREVENT THE AIRPLANE FROM GOING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND DOWN THE EMBANKMENT AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE WHEN HE REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT GOING TO STOP ON THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE GROUND LOOP. ## Factual narrative On March 11, 1993, at about 1105 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N1808H, landed long and overran runway 22, at Catalina Airport (AVX), Avalon, California. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, operated by South Bay Aviation, Torrance, California, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated airline transport pilot nor his two passengers was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Torrance Municipal Airport (TOA), Torrance, California, at 1044 hours. The pilot told Safety Board investigators in a telephone interview conducted on March 11, 1993, that the initial approach to runway 22 was high and he elected to go-around. On the second approach, at 90 knots indicated airspeed, he landed long. He stated the braking was poor when he applied the brakes and then the left brake "locked." The airplane swerved to the left and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid off the end of the runway. The operator reported that the pilot told him that the landing was "fast and high" and elected not to go-around. He "locked-up the brakes" but realized that the airplane would not stop within the runway environment. The pilot intentionally "ground-looped" the airplane to prevent it from overrunning the runway and go down the embankment at the end of the runway. The left main gear collapsed during the ground loop. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1808H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1808H-2008-08-15), registration cancelled 2008-08-15, S/N 34-7770151, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7770151 - Airframe hours: 3081 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-E 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: South Bay Aviation - Registered owner: Alfredo Lopez - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 25, 1993, 2 hours before - Departed: TOA, TORRANCE, CA - Airport: AVX, Catalina, runway 22, 3,240 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 743 total, 21 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - 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 19930311004979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930311004979A), Mar 11, 1993: Piper PA34200T, Avalon, CA, Substantial damage. Landed long and fast. Locked brakes and ground looped to prevent a overrun. Collapsed left main landing gear. 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.