MIA04CA118

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-151 · Sugar Loaf Key, FL · July 24, 2004

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 24, 2004, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
Place
Sugar Loaf Key, FL
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N4590FPiper PA-28-151
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 3, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20040724032999A
Case key
59868

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to attain the proper touchdown point resulting in a landing overrun and subsequent on-ground collision with trees.

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.

OverrunLanding - roll
Proper touchdown point - not attainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

The pilot stated that after starting the engine at the departure airport he checked the brakes with no discrepancies noted. Additionally, no discrepancies were noted with the brakes during the engine run-up before departure. The flight departed and nearly the entire flight was uneventful with the exception of a momentary discrepancy with the alternator. The flight arrived at the destination airport on the base leg where he lowered 1 notch of flaps. The flight then turned final for runway 10, where he fully extended the flaps and maintained approximately 65. He reported landing within the first 1/3 on the 2,700 foot long runway and applied the normal brakes but later reported he, "...got nothing." He repositioned his feet thinking he might be pushing on the rudder bar instead of the brake pedals but again there was no effect. During the landing roll he contemplated performing a go-around but decided not to due to the length of the runway. The airplane continued off the end of the runway and collided with brush. After coming to rest, he and the passengers evacuated the airplane. After getting out of the airplane, he looked back and saw skid marks in the sand area beyond the departure end of the runway. He also stated that he was familiar with the accident airport as he had flown in there previously approximately 7-8 times. Following recovery of the airplane, examination of the brake system by the insurance adjuster revealed no evidence or malfunction.

Factual narrative

On July 24, 2004, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-151, N4590F, registered to Keys Recovery & Liquidation, Inc., traveled off the end of the runway and collided with trees at the Sugar Loaf Shores Airport, Sugar Loaf Key, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from the Naples Municipal Airport, Naples, Florida, to the Sugar Loaf Shores Airport, Sugar Loaf Key, Florida. The airplane was substantially damaged and there were no injuries to the private-rated pilot and three passengers. The flight originated about 0900, from the Naples Municipal Airport.

The pilot stated that after starting the engine at the departure airport he checked the brakes with no discrepancies noted. Additionally, no discrepancies were noted with the brakes during the engine run-up before departure. The flight departed and nearly the entire flight was uneventful with the exception of a momentary discrepancy with the alternator. The flight arrived at the destination airport on the base leg where he lowered 1 notch of flaps. The flight then turned final for runway 10, where he fully extended the flaps and maintained approximately 65. He reported landing within the first 1/3 on the 2,700-foot-long runway and applied the normal brakes but later reported he, "...got nothing." He repositioned his feet thinking he might be pushing on the rudder bar instead of the brake pedals but again there was no effect. During the landing roll he contemplated performing a go-around but decided not to due to the length of the runway. The airplane continued off the end of the runway and collided with brush. After coming to rest, he and the passengers evacuated the airplane. After getting out of the airplane, he looked back and saw skid marks in the sand area beyond the departure end of the runway. He also stated that he was familiar with the accident airport as he had flown in there previously approximately seven to eight times.

Following recovery of the airplane, examination of the brake system by the insurance adjuster revealed no evidence or malfunction.

Aircraft

Registration
N4590F
Reported as
Piper PA-28-151
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-7715052
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E3D, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Troy Zinser
Registered owner
Keys Recovery & Liquidation, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
KAPF · Naples, FL
Destination
7FA1 · Sugar Loaf Key, FL
Airport
7FA1 · Sugar Loaf Airport, runway 10

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
43
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
1,088 total · 7 in this make and model · 73 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.