# NTSB MIA05CA082: Piper PA-23-250, N11EG, West Palm Beach, FL, March 25, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 25, 2005, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: West Palm Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.683055, -80.095558 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6831&lon=-80.0956&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05CA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61207/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA082 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain proper alignment with the runway, his failure to perform a go around after recognizing the aircraft was not properly aligned for landing, and his intentionally landing on a taxiway which resulted in a landing overrun and subsequent nose landing gear collapse following on ground collision with a ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot stated that the flight proceeded to the destination airport and was cleared to land on runway 9R. A strong crosswind "caused me to come in slightly higher and faster-I decided to do a go around and did so with no problem...." The tower controller advised him to enter a downwind for runway 9R again, but never gave wind speed or direction. He reentered the traffic pattern for runway 9R, turned onto final approach, where a "tremendous" crosswind was blowing then stopped abruptly allowing the plane to fly south of the runway. He made the decision to land rather than try to correct for the drift because the airspeed was too slow. The airplane landed further on the taxiway then he wanted, and he realized there was insufficient taxiway remaining to stop the airplane. He again made the decision to remain on the ground and with obstructions ahead, veered the aircraft to the left. While on the ground, the airplane encountered a 5 foot drop-off which caused the nose gear to collapse and subsequent propeller contact. The airplane slid approximately 10 to 15 feet and came to rest upright. He further stated there was no mechanical malfunction or failure. National Transportation Safety Board review of a voice tape from the Palm Beach International Airport air traffic control tower revealed the pilot was provided the wind direction and velocity (160 degrees at 10 knots) when the flight was cleared to land for the first approach. Prior to the second approach, the controller advised the pilot that the wind was from 170 degrees at 11 knots. According to the FAA inspector who examined the accident site, the airplane landed on a closed taxiway on the centerline, traveled off the taxiway onto grass, across another taxiway, and down a small depression where the nose landing gear dug-in causing it to collapse. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 2005, about 1220 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-23-250, N11EG, registered to a private individual, experienced collapse of the nose landing gear during the landing roll at Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from Treasure Cay Airport, Abaco Island, Bahamas, to Palm Beach International Airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1130, from Treasure Cay Airport. The pilot stated that the flight proceeded to the destination airport and was cleared to land on runway 9R. A strong crosswind "caused me to come in slightly higher and faster-I decided to do a go around and did so with no problem...." The tower controller advised him to enter a downwind for runway 9R again, but never gave wind speed or direction. He reentered the traffic pattern for runway 9R, turned onto final approach, where a "tremendous" crosswind was blowing then stopped abruptly, allowing the plane to fly south of the runway. He made the decision to land rather than try to correct for the drift because the airspeed was too slow. The airplane landed further on the taxiway than he wanted, and he realized there was insufficient taxiway remaining to stop the airplane. He again made the decision to remain on the ground and with obstructions ahead, veered the aircraft to the left. While on the ground, the airplane encountered a 5-foot dropoff, which caused the nose gear to collapse and subsequent propeller contact. The airplane slid approximately 10 to 15 feet and came to rest upright. He further stated there was no mechanical malfunction or failure. National Transportation Safety Board review of a voice tape from the Palm Beach International Airport Air Traffic Control Tower revealed the pilot was provided the wind direction and velocity (160 degrees at 10 knots) when the flight was cleared to land for the first approach. Prior to the second approach, the controller advised the pilot that the wind was from 170 degrees at 11 knots. According to the FAA inspector who examined the accident site, the airplane landed on a closed taxiway on the centerline, traveled off the taxiway onto grass, across another taxiway, and down a small depression where the nose landing gear dug in causing it to collapse. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11EG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11EG-2007-05-23), registration cancelled 2007-05-23, S/N 27-76, built 1960 (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: 27-76 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William A. Domeyer DDS - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MYAT, Treasure Cay - Destination: KPBI, West Palm Beach, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KPBI, Palm Beach International, runway 9R ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,310 total, 1,161 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050325006099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050325006099A), Mar 25, 2005: Piper PA23250, West Palm Beach, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On 03/25/2005 inspector [privacy data omitted] and I were dispatched to Palm Beach International Airport (pbi) at approximately 12:30 local time to… 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.