# NTSB MIA98LA238: Piper PA-34-200, N40805, St. Augustine, FL, September 5, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 1998, 13:57 local (17:57 UTC) - Place: St. Augustine, FL - Coordinates: 30.01054, -81.409103 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0105&lon=-81.4091&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43861 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43861/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA238 ## Probable cause The failure of the flight instructor and dual student to ensure the landing gear was extended for landing and their attempted go-around after the aircraft and propellers contacted the runway. This resulted in loss of directional control during the go-around due to propeller damage and subsequent impact with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - go-around - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - propeller system/accessories,blade - bent - directional control - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The flight instructor stated they performed a go-around because they did not know if the landing gear was extended. The aircraft climbed initially, rolled to the left and descended, striking the ground left wing tip and nose first. Examination of the runway showed slash marks caused by the propellers of the aircraft. Examination of the aircraft showed the landing gear handle was in the up position and the left propeller was curled over about two thirds of the blade length. The right propeller was curled over about one third of the blade length. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 1998, about 1357 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200, N40805, registered to Florida Aviation Career Training, Inc., crashed during a go-around at St. Augustine Airport, St. Augustine, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the airline transport-rated flight instructor and dual student were not injured. The flight originated from St. Augustine, the same day, about 1250. The instructor stated that during the landing flare they initiated a go-around due to uncertainty as to the position of the landing gear. The aircraft initially climbed and then rolled to the left and descended. The aircraft struck the ground left wing tip first followed by the nose and then came to rest. Examination of runway 13 by an FAA inspector showed a series of perpendicular slash marks on the left side of the runway center line starting at 1,200 feet from the approach end threshold and again at 1,750 feet. At 2,200 feet, slash marks appear on both sides of the runway center line. At 3,200 feet, slash marks appear on the left side of the center line. Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector after the accident showed the landing gear handle was in the landing gear retracted position. The left propeller was curled over on itself about two-thirds of the blade length. The right hand propeller was curled over on itself about one-third of the blade length. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40805](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40805-1999-04-16), registration cancelled 1999-04-16, S/N 34-7450081, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-200 - 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: 34-7450081 - Airframe hours: 7228 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Florida Aviation Career Trng. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 15, 1998, 77 hours before - Departed: SGJ - Airport: SGJ, St. Augustine, runway 13, 6,939 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,835 total, 233 in this make and model, 3,678 as pilot in command, 265 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SGJ, 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 19980905022759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980905022759A), Sep 5, 1998: Piper PA34200, St Augustine, FL, Substantial damage. Acft ran off the rwy and went into the grass. (.4) on September 5, 1998, about 1357 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200, N40805, registered to Florida… 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.