# NTSB MIA04CA006: Piper PA-32-300, N198GM, Everglades City, FL, October 19, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 19, 2003, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Everglades City, FL - Coordinates: 25.848611, -81.389999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8486&lon=-81.3900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 58198 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04CA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58198/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04CA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide path during the approach to land, which resulted in him undershooting the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had just taken off when the forward baggage compartment opened, and he entered the traffic pattern to land at the same airport he had just departed from. He said the approach was normal, but while on short final the descent rate increased, and the main landing gear contacted the ground about 5 feet short of the runway. He said the airplane then bounced on the runway surface, and it continued about 1,200 feet down the centerline of the runway before the left main landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane then departed to the left side of the runway and into the grass. He also said that prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 2003, about 1540 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N198GM, registered to and operated by TCA Management Group Inc., as a Title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight, undershot the runway at Everglades City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airline transport-rated pilot was not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Everglades City, Florida, the same day, about 1530. The pilot stated that he had just taken off from Everglades City Airpark, with the intention to fly the airplane to Pahokee, Florida, and further stated that after the airplane became airborne, the forward baggage compartment opened. He said he then entered the traffic pattern to land at the same airport he had just departed from, and that the approach was normal, but while on short final the descent rate increased, and the main landing gear contacted the ground about 5 feet short of the runway. He said the airplane then bounced on the runway surface, and continued about 1,200 feet down the centerline of the runway before the left main landing gear broke away from the airplane. The airplane then departed to the left side of the runway and into the grass. He also said that prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N198GM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N198GM), registered now, S/N 32-7440126, built 1974 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7440126 - Airframe hours: 12485 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1AS 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: TCA Management Group - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2003, 22 hours before - Departed: X01, Everglades City, FL - Destination: X01 - Airport: X01, Everglades Airpark, runway 33, 2,400 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 22, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 18,000 total, 264 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 7 knots - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: APF ## 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 20031019024889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031019024889A), Oct 19, 2003: Piper PA32300, Everglades, FL. (-23) While departing Everglades city airport (XO1), Sunday, October 19, 2003, UNICOM personnel noticed that the forward baggage door was open and baggage was… ## Other investigations on N198GM (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX76IL036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76IL036), Nov 18, 1975: Piper PA-32 (N198GM), Bermuda Dunes, CA, incident, minor damage 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.