# NTSB MIA89LA209: Piper PA-34, N711DL, Ackerman, MS, July 29, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1989, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Ackerman, MS
- Coordinates: 33.310955, -89.170021 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3110&lon=-89.1700&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32472
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA209
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32472/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA209

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY AND HIS IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION WHICH RESULTED IN A SITUATION FROM WHICH HE COULD NEITHER GO-AROUND NOR STOP ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY.  THE THUNDERSTORMS, INOPERATIVE (DISREPAIRED) WIND SOCK, AND ROUGH TERRAIN (POTHOLES) WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - performed
  - airport facilities,wind direction indicator - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not performed
  - proper touchdown point - not attained
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT ENCOUNTERED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS BEFORE REACHING HIS DESTN. HE DIVERTED TO ACKERMAN, MS, & CIRCLED THE ARPT TO DETERMINE THE WIND. THE WIND SOCK INDCD TO HIM THAT THE WIND WAS CALM. JUST BEFORE LNDG ON RWY 5, HE NOTICED A 'DOWNWIND CURRENT', BUT THE ACFT WAS CONFIGURED WITH THE LANDING GEAR & FULL FLAPS EXTENDED & IT WAS IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE PLT RPRTD THAT BY THIS TIME, THE ACFT WAS BEHIND THE POWER CURVE, THUS MAKING A GO-AROUND IMPOSSIBLE. IT TOUCHED DOWN BEYOND MIDFIELD & MAX BRAKING WAS APPLIED, BUT THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY. THE ACFT CONTD OFF THE DEP END, HIT POTHOLES ON THE OVERRUN AREA & WAS DAMAGED. AFTER THE LANDING, AN EXAM OF THE WIND SOCK REVEALED IT WAS IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR WITH MOST OF THE FABRIC MISSING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N711DL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N711DL), registered now, S/N 34-7350241 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7350241
- Airframe hours: 3106
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Van Ovost, J.M.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 10, 1989, 30 hours before
- Departed: JAN, JACKSON, MS
- Destination: LMS, LOUISVILLE, MS
- Airport: 9M4, Ackerman, runway 5, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 7,261 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 325 in the last 90 days, 79 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: MEI, 60 nm away

## 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 19890729026769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890729026769A), Jul 29, 1989: Piper PA34200, Ackerman, MS, Substantial damage. Overran the runway and struck a pothole on a downwind landing. Made precautionary landing due to thunderstorms.

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.

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