# NTSB MIA97LA218: Piper PA-24-260, N9396P, Burnsville, NC, July 27, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 1997, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Burnsville, NC - Coordinates: 35.909988, -82.290367 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9100&lon=-82.2904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38316 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA218 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38316/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA218 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to use the checklist to confirm that the main cabin door was closed and locked before takeoff. Also, failure of the pilot to attain the proper touchdown point during the precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the self induced pressure by the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - door - open - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis Before takeoff the pilot failed to verify that the main cabin door was closed and latched. After takeoff the door opened and he maneuvered the airplane to land in the opposite direction than for takeoff. He stated that he became distracted due to the perceived emergency and landed about 6 feet short of the runway on upsloping terrain. The left main landing gear then separated from the airplane which bounced onto then off the runway into a 25-foot deep ravine where the airplane came to rest upright. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 1997, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-260, N9396P, coregistered to private individuals, landed short during a precautionary landing shortly after takeoff from the Mountain Air Airport, a private airstrip near Burnsville, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot and two passengers were not injured. The right front seat passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated about 2 minutes earlier. The pilot stated that before takeoff he failed to check that the main cabin door was closed and latched. Shortly after takeoff his wife in the right front seat noted that the cabin door was ajar. He maneuvered the airplane to return for landing on the opposite direction used for departure. He stated that he became distracted by the perceived emergency and landed about 6 feet short on upsloping terrain. The left main landing gear separated and the airplane bounced onto the runway, veered off the left side of the runway into a 25-feet deep ravine and came to rest upright. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9396P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9396P), registered now, S/N 24-4899, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4899 - Airframe hours: 3187 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-N1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kristan R. Maynard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 1997, 33 hours before - Departed: 2NC0 - Destination: UMP, INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Airport: 2NC0, Mountain Air Airport, runway 32, 2,900 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,190 total, 125 in this make and model, 1,025 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 7 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AVL, 27 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 19970727019809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970727019809A), Jul 27, 1997: Piper PA24260, Burnsville, NC, Substantial damage. Door opened on climbout. Became distrubed beleiving emergency. Landed short. Sheared gear. Slid into tree. (.4)before takeoff the pilot failed to verify that… 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.