- Date
- June 1, 2000, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Steens, MS
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9423TPiper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000601007919A
- Case key
- 49323
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 flight instructor failed to maintain control of the airplane after landing, which resulted in an on ground collision with a tree. Factors in this accident were the flight instructor allowed the student to get too fast and high on the approach.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was seen high and fast on the approach to runway 36, which was 1,400 feet long. A witness said the airplane landed about halfway down the runway, departed the end of the runway, and impacted with trees. The flight instructor (CFI) stated, that the student was at the controls and had turned base leg. The CFI stated, '...I assisted him to final leg he was fast and high. I took over the control [and landed [on the] first 1/3 [of the runway] but I was fast [and] ran out the runway length.' The FAA reported, that the pilot 'landed long' on a short grass field and 'failed to stop' the aircraft before impacting trees.
Factual narrative
On June 1, 2000, about 1215 central daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N9423T, registered to a private individual impacted with trees after landing at Hopper Field near Steens, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane received substantial damage. The commercial-rated pilot/certified flight instructor (CFI) reported serious injuries. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed from Fayette, Alabama, at 1100 en route to Steen, Mississippi.
According to the airport manager, who witnessed the accident, the airplane was high and fast on the approach to runway 36, which was 1,400 feet long. The witness said the airplane landed about halfway down the runway, departed the end of the runway, and impacted with trees.
The CFI stated, "...student... turned base leg I assisted him to final leg he was fast and high. I took over the control [and] landed [on the] first 1/3 [of the runway] but I was fast [and] ran out the runway length."
The student pilot stated, "...the third approach was also 900 feet, I asked for a go or no go, [the CFI] told me he had it I thought he was going to make a lower approach for a better look then go around and line up on final at a lower altitude. The approach seemed a little high, and a slight wind out of the south could have been a factor. Our speed on final seemed a little high. Initial touchdown was about 100-150 feet from the end of the runway...the airplane developed lift and flew another 100 feet before touchdown. At this point [the CFI] applied the brakes with full pressure, then completely locked a few seconds later. Speed was still excessive at this point with only 300 feet of runway left...our speed seemed to be about 50-60 mph."
The FAA inspector stated on his report, "...pilot landed long on a short grass field and failed to stop the aircraft before impacting trees."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9423T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-78A0100
- Airframe hours
- 2,200
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard K. Butz
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- M95 · Fayette, AL
- Airport
- 29M · Hopper Field, runway 36, 1,400 × 110 ft, grass/turf
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
- 38
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,600 total · 45 in this make and model · 1,132 as pilot in command · 193 in the last 90 days · 65 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GTR
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.