# NTSB MIA03LA145: Piper PA-23-250, N5224Y, Fort Pierce, FL, July 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2003, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.238332, -80.491386 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2383&lon=-80.4914&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57521/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA145 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing roll resulting in collision with trees after the airplane departed the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after landing the airplane pulled to the left, he aborted the landing and set up for another landing. On the second landing, the pilot said he approached slower and touched down on the center of the runway. When he lowered the nose gear the airplane turned left, departed the runway and struck trees. The left wing tip sheared off and the right wing separated from the fuselage before the airplane came to a full stop. A witness stated to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident, he observed the airplane pitching up and down during two attempts to land and flying radically. The witness added he has known the pilot for many years and stated the pilot "does not fly that way." The pilot's 14-year-old grandson was seated in the front next to the pilot, while the other two passengers were seated in the center row of seats. The FAA inspector stated "no evidence of nose wheel failure was discovered". ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2003, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250, N5224Y, registered to Pereira Enterprises Inc. and operated by an individual, impacted with trees during the landing roll at the Treasure Coast Airpark, Fort Pierce, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight. The airplane incurred substantial damaged. The commercial-rated pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries, while the other two passengers reported no injuries. The flight had originated from the same airport, at 1315, earlier that day. According to the pilot, after landing the airplane pulled to the left, he aborted the landing and set up for another landing. On the second landing, the pilot said he approached slower and touched down on the center of the runway. When he lowered the nose gear the airplane turned left, departed the runway and struck trees. The left wing tip sheared off and the right wing separated from the fuselage before the airplane came to a full stop. A witness stated to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident, he observed the airplane pitching up and down during two attempts to land and flying radically. The witness added he has known the pilot for many years and stated the pilot "does not fly that way." The pilot's 14 -year-old grandson was seated in the front next to the pilot, while the other two passengers were seated in the center row of seats. The FAA inspector stated "no evidence of nose wheel failure was discovered". ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5224Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5224Y-2003-11-22), registration cancelled 2003-11-22, S/N 27-2272, built 1963 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-2272 - Airframe hours: 4169 - Engines: Lycoming 0540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming 0540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John Francis Pereira - Registered owner: Pereira Enterprises Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 2002, 24 hours before - Departed: KFPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: KFPR - Airport: L37, Treasure Coast Airpark, runway 090, 4,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 4,315 total, 1,503 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KFPR ## 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 20030720015989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030720015989A), Jul 20, 2003: Piper PA23250, Fort Pierce, FL, Destroyed. (-23) On July 20, 2003, at approximately 1400 EDT, a Piper PA-23-250 aircraft departed the runway to the left side upon landing, struck a tree causing the… 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.