MIA93LA197

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-31-350 · Fernandina Bch, FL · September 17, 1993

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 17, 1993, 09:40 local (13:40 UTC)
Place
Fernandina Bch, FL
Injuries
4 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N456CBPiper PA-31-350
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 1, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19930917035009A
Case key
37395

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

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot-in-command's excessive airspeed, his failure to touch down at the proper point on the runway, and his failure to abort the landing.

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
Airspeed - excessivePilot in commandCause
Proper touchdown point - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Aborted landing - not performedPilot in commandCause
Nose overLanding - roll

Analysis

Witnesses stated the flight approached at about 120 knots and touched down about 3,000 feet down the 4,300-foot runway. The pilot then aborted the landing. On the second landing the flight again approached at about 120 knots and touched down about 3,000 feet down the runway. The pilot attempted to stop but was unable to. The aircraft overan the runway and collided with a ditch where it flipped over inverted and came to rest. The pilot reported to FAA inspectors that he had no mechanical problems with the aircraft before the accident.

Factual narrative

On September 17, 1993, at 0940 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N456CB, registered to Cherokee Brick and Tile Co., Inc., overran the runway, collided with a ditch, and nosed over while landing at Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport, Fernandina Beach, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private pilot and three passengers received minor injuries. The flight originated at Macon, Georgia, on September 17, 1993, at 0815.

The pilot stated to an FAA inspector that he landed long and overran the runway. He reported no mechanical difficulties with the aircraft.

Eyewitnesses reported to the FAA that the aircraft made one landing on runway 8 at a point 3/4 of the way down the runway while at an estimated speed of 120 knots. After touchdown the pilot performed an aborted landing. On the second landing attempt the aircraft again touched down 3/4 of the way down the runway at 120 knots. The pilot attempted to stop; however, the aircraft overran the runway, collided with a ditch, and then nosed over, coming to rest inverted.

Examination of the runway by FAA inspectors revealed that the aircraft left skid marks from heavy braking along the last 1,000 feet of runway before running off the runway.

The pilot was given an NTSB 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Accident Report form, by an FAA inspector at the accident scene shortly after the accident. The NTSB did not receive the completed report form from the pilot.

Aircraft

Registration
N456CB
Reported as
Piper PA-31-350
Category
Airplane
Serial number
31-8152130
Engine
Lycoming TIO-540-J2B2, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Cherokee Brick & Tile Co., Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
MAC · Macon, GA
Destination
55J
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
55J · Fernandina Bch. Municipal, runway 8, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

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
67
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,650 total · 600 in this make and model · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 1 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
91 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
NRB, 13 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.