# NTSB MIA99LA009: Piper PA-32RT, N39525, Vidalia, GA, October 14, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 14, 1998, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Vidalia, GA - Coordinates: 32.209255, -82.399917 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2093&lon=-82.3999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 17, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44173 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44173/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA009 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning by which he failed to obtain NOTAM information, and his failure to identify an hazardous/unsafe condition on the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - notams - not obtained, pilot in command - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he obtained a weather and NOTAM briefing before he departed on a VFR flight. Upon landing on runway 24 at his destination airport, the airplane collided with a barrier, and the left main landing gear collapsed. Coordination with FAA Automated Flight Service Stations revealed no record of a weather or NOTAM briefing provided to the accident pilot. A NOTAM was issued 3 months before the accident closing runway 24. Examination of the runway by the FAA after the accident revealed the closed runway was marked in accordance with required publications. ## Factual narrative On October 14, 1998, at about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT, N39525, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, registered to a private owner crashed on landing rollout at the Vidalia Municipal Airport, Vidalia, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Fort Pierce, Florida, about 1 hour before the accident. The pilot stated he received a full weather briefing and checked NOTAMS for his destination airport from an FAA Automated Flight Service Station. No NOTAMS were issued during the briefing for runway 24 at the Vidalia Municipal Airport. He obtained traffic advisories from Jacksonville approach and Jacksonville Center before making a VFR visual approach to Vidalia Municipal Airport. He attempted to contact Vidalia UNICOM before landing with negative results. He made a VFR approach to runway 24. The left main landing gear collided with a barrier, and the landing gear collapsed. Telephonic communication with Miami, Gainesville, and St. Petersburg Automated Flight Service Stations, revealed the pilot of N39525 did not obtain a weather briefing, check NOTAMS or file a flight plan on the day of the accident. Review of NOTAM information for Vidalia, runway 06/24 indicates the runways have been closed since July 16, 1998, at 1200Z. Examination of the runway by the FAA revealed the left main landing gear hit a small orange and white colored barrier. The left landing gear folded under the airplane, the left wing collided with the runway, and the airplane skidded off the runway unto the grass. The FAA stated, "an inspection of the runway revealed that large "yellow Xs" were in place at the ends of runway 24/6. The yellow Xs were held in place with sand bags. Some sand had migrated from the sand bags onto the yellow Xs. Additional barriers were on runway 24/6 at the intersection of runway 13/31 to keep traffic from turning on the closed runway. These barriers were wrapped in an orange and white reflective material. The barriers also had yellow blinking lights attached to the top of the barriers. The yellow blinking lights are only activated at night. The closed runway was properly marked in accordance with the Aeronautical Information Manual, Chapter 2." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N39525](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39525), registered now, S/N 32R-7887101, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32RT - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (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: 32R-7887101 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cleveland Barton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FPR, FORT PIERCE, FL - Destination: VID - Airport: VID, Vidalia, runway 24, 5,003 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AMG ## 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 19981014034679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981014034679A), Oct 14, 1998: Piper PA32RT300T, Vidalia, GA, Substantial damage. On October 14, 1998 at approximately 11:45 am, Piper aircraft N39525 landed in Vidalia, Georgia on "closed" runway 24. The aircraft landed, the left main… 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.