# NTSB MIA98LA032: Piper PA-28-151, Clarksville, FL, November 3, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: November 3, 1997, 19:00 UTC, 13:00 local
- Place: Clarksville, FL
- Coordinates: 30.430849, -85.180809 (estimated)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director, November 6, 1998
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38433
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA032
- NTSB report (PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38433/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA032

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper flare and touchdown.

## Analysis

The pilot was faced with a 15 knot, occasionally gusting to 25 knots, crosswind to the single runway 1/19.  The pilot's initial attempt to land runway 19 was aborted in favor of runway 1.  Her approach to runway 1 resulted in a touchdown close to midfield in a nose down attitude that caused the nose wheel and propeller blade to strike the runway before the main wheels.  The airplane came to rest within 50 to 75 feet of runway travel, bending a propeller blade, collapsing the nose landing gear and shedding the left main landing gear in the process.

## Factual narrative

On November 3, 1997, about 1300 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-151, N4502X, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR 91 personal flight experienced a hard landing at Steep Head Farm Airstrip, Clarksville, Florida.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage.  The private pilot was not injured, and the private-rated passenger sustained serious injuries.  The flight originated from Marianna, Florida, about 30 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated that about 1000, she and her passenger departed Steep Head Farm Airstrip,  flew to Marianna Municipal Airport where they each completed two or three touch-and-go landings to runway 26, and flew a circuituitous route back to Clarksville.

Upon their return to Clarksville, the pilot attempted a landing to runway 19, but abandoned the approach and elected to land runway 01.  The airplane landed hard halfway down the runway.  On touchdown the nose gear collapsed, one propeller blade contacted the runway, the left main gear separated, and the airplane skidded to a stop.  Total landing rollout was estimated to be 50 to 75 feet.  The pilot said the throttle and mixture control stuck.

According to FAA records, an A&P mechanic inspected the airplane after the accident and stated the throttle and mixture control worked free and clear for their full range of travel.

The recorded winds at Tallahassee at 1052 were 260 degrees, 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The recorded winds at Tallahassee at 1252 were 270 degrees, 15 knots, gusting to 22 knots.

## Sequence of events

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - overload

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4502X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4502X-2003-01-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-151
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-151 (registry code 7102805, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7615021
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Departed: MAI, MARIANNA, FL
- Destination: FL15, FL
- Airport: FL15, STEEP HEAD FARM, runway 1
- FAA reports: 19971103040809A (https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971103040809A) (OpenAirDocs)

## Flight crew

- Pilot; age 44; private; medical class 3; hours: 86 pic, 30 pic in this make and model, 186 total, 50 total in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility (statute miles): 10
- Temperature (°F): 71.6

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.