# NTSB LAX94LA127: Piper PA-23-250, N303AT, Las Vegas, NV, February 19, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 1994, 20:45 local (Feb 19, 1994, 04:45 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Location: 36.1750° N, 115.1372° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Las Vegas, NV, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1750&lon=-115.1372&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28667 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28667/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA127 ## Probable cause THE CFI'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION BY FAILING TO GO-AROUND INSTEAD OF LANDING, THE CFI'S EXCESSIVE TOUCHDOWN SPEED, AND HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. THE DUAL STUDENT'S INITIAL EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AND THE DITCH WERE FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - airspeed - excessive, dual student (contributing factor) - remedial action - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE FLIGHT WAS RETURNING TO ITS HOME BASE AFTER A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL SESSION. THE DUAL STUDENT WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE AND ALLOWED ITS FINAL APPROACH FLIGHT PATH TO BECOME TOO LOW AND FAST. THE CFI ASSUMED THE CONTROLS AND EXECUTED A GO-AROUND AND REENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE CFI RELINQUISHED THE CONTROLS TO THE STUDENT AFTER EXPLAINING WHAT THE STUDENT HAD DONE WRONG. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED WAS TOO FAST. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY, THE CFI ASSUMED THE CONTROLS, BUT DID NOT EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. INSTEAD, THE CFI RETARDED THE THROTTLES AND LANDED ABOUT 1/3 BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY AT A HIGH AIRSPEED. THE CFI DID NOT BELIEVE HE HAD SUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND AND HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP BUT THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. ACCORDING TO THE CFI, THE AIRPLANE LANDED WITH AN EQUIVALENT DIRECT TAILWIND OF 6 KNOTS. THE APPROACH CONTROL REPORTED THE SURFACE WINDS TO BE A LEFT QUARTERING HEADWIND. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 1994, at 2045 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-23-250, N303AT, overran runway 36 during the landing roll at Sky Harbor Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilots were completing a local visual flight rules instructional flight. The airplane, operated by Proflight, Inc., Las Vegas, Nevada, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot/certified flight instructor (CFI), the certificated private pilot/dual student, and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Sky Harbor Airport at an undetermined time and flew to North Las Vegas Airport; the flight departed North Las Vegas Airport at 2030 hours. The CFI submitted the required Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2; the operator did not submit the required report. In the report, the CFI said that the student was flying the airplane when the flight entered the downwind leg for runway 36. While on final approach, the student allowed the airplane to get too ". . . low and fast. . ." and the CFI assumed the controls and executed a go-around. He then reentered the traffic pattern. The CFI explained to the student what he did wrong and then returned the controls to the student. The student ". . .overshot . . ." the final approach course and when he aligned the airplane on the final approach the airplane's airspeed was too fast. The CFI told the student to correct the airspeed, but he failed to do so. When the airplane was about 1/4 mile from the approach end of the runway, the CFI assumed the controls. The CFI retarded the throttles and landed the airplane about 1/3 of the runway distance beyond the threshold. The airplane's airspeed was fast and the CFI believed that he did not have sufficient runway remaining to execute a go-around. He then attempted to stop the airplane with mechanical and aerodynamic braking, but was unsuccessful. The airplane exited the end of the runway and collided with a ditch collapsing the nose landing gear. The pilot reported that the surface winds were from 240 degrees at 16 knots which is equivalent to a 6 knots tail wind. He also said the Las Vegas Approach Control advised him the surface winds were from 310 degrees at 9 knots. Neither the CFI nor the operator provided the National Transportation Safety Board with the names and addresses of the passengers. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N303AT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N303AT-2000-07-27), registration cancelled 2000-07-27, S/N 27-3574 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-3574 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Proflight, Inc. - Registered owner: Hossler, James D., Et Al - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: L15, Las Vegas-Sky Harbor, runway 36, 5,000 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 696 total, 25 in this make and model, 542 as pilot in command, 178 in the last 90 days, 178 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 240° at 16 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19940218002659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940218002659A), Feb 18, 1994: Piper PA23250, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. Student too high and fast. CFI took over. Second try same.CFI took over landed fast overran runway. Folded nose 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.