# NTSB MIA93LA161: Piper PA-46, N888CD, Vero Beach, FL, July 22, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 1993, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Vero Beach, FL - Location: 27.6556° N, 80.4180° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at VERO BEACH RGNL (VRB), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6556&lon=-80.4180&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37374 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37374/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA161 ## Probable cause IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TAILWIND, WET RUNWAY, AND SOFT TERRAIN BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - airspeed(vr) - not obtained, pilot in command - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - landing gear - overload ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS HOLDING TO TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 22 WHILE WAITING FOR WEATHER TO CLEAR WEST OF THE AIRPORT. HE NOTICED THERE WAS GOOD WEATHER TO THE EAST AND ELECTED TO TAKEOFF WITH A TAILWIND ON RUNWAY 11, THE SHORTEST RUNWAY. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE NOTICED THE AIRSPEED WAS NOT BUILDING FAST ENOUGH, SO HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY, WHICH WAS WET. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED INTO WET SAND OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. NO PRE-ACCIDENT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT OR ENGINE WAS EVIDENT. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 1993, at about 1845 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-46, N888CD, registered to Sutton Holdings, Inc., operating on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, aborted the take off from runway 11L, ran off the end of the runway sustaining substantial damage. The private pilot was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Vero Beach Municipal Airport about 1 minute before the accident. The pilot stated in an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge that a thunderstorm was in the vicinity of the airport when he received clearance to taxi to runway 22. The pilot stated while waiting in the run up area he observed the weather conditions, and requested to taxi to runway 11L, after watching traffic depart from runway 11R. The pilot began his takeoff roll on runway 11L and realized that their was insufficient runway and airspeed to complete the takeoff due to a tail wind condition. The pilot aborted the takeoff resulting in a subsequent overrun of the runway. In addition the pilot stated, "there was nothing wrong with the airplane. I simply attempted a take off from a 3504' runway with a tail wind, and could not reach rotation speed before I ran out of runway, so I aborted the take off which I should have never started in the first place." ## Aircraft - Registration: N888CD (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46220067 - Airframe hours: 619 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sutton Holdings, Inc. - Registered owner: Sutton Holdings, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 1993, 18 hours before - Departed: VRB - Destination: CRE, MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: VRB, Vero Beach Municipal, runway 11, 3,504 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 355 total, 25 in this make and model, 264 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: VRB, 1 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 19930722025129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930722025129A), Jul 22, 1993: Piper PA46350P, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Began takeoff with thunderstorm in area. Unable to rotate aborted takeoff. Ran off end into sand. Was downwind. 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.