# NTSB NYC98LA174: Piper PA-34-200T, N525WA, Middlesboro, KY, August 24, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 24, 1998, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Middlesboro, KY - Coordinates: 36.610462, -83.719497 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6105&lon=-83.7195&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43829 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43829/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA174 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed, which resulted in runway overrun into a grass area where the gear collapsed. The tailwind was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - grass - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear - overload ## Analysis The airplane was landing on runway 10, a 3,630 foot long, asphalt runway. The airplane touched down on approximately the last 800 feet of the runway. As the airplane traveled down the runway, a witness observed smoke emanating from its tires. The airplane went off the end of the runway, traveled onto a grass area where its landing gear collapsed, and slid to a stop. Tire skid marks were observed about 2,800 feet beyond the runway threshold. The tire marks twisted at the end of the runway before entering the grass area. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA Inspector did not disclose evidence of any pre-impact abnormalities of the airframe or engine. Winds reported at an airport about 33 miles north-northwest of the accident site, were from 230 degrees at 10 knots, with 14 knot gusts. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 1998, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA34-200T, N525WA, was substantially damaged while landing at the Middlesboro-Bell County Airport (1A6), Middlesboro, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Owensboro-Daviess County Airport, Owensboro, Kentucky, about 1600. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was landing on runway 10, a 3,630 foot long, 75 foot wide, asphalt runway. In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, a witness stated the airplane touched down on approximately the last 800 feet of the runway. As the airplane traveled down the runway, the witness observed smoke emanating from its tires. When the airplane reached the end of the runway it began to rotate to the south. The airplane then went off the end of the runway, traveled onto a grass area where its landing gear collapsed, and slid to a stop. According to an FAA Inspector, tire skid marks were observed about 2,800 feet from the runway threshold. The tire marks twisted at the end of the runway before entering the grass area. The airplane came to rest in the grass area located about 25 to 30 feet from the departure end of runway 10. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA Inspector did not disclose evidence of any pre-impact abnormalities of the airframe or engine. Winds reported at an airport about 33 miles north-northwest of 1A6, were from 230 degrees at 10 knots, with 14 knot gusts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N525WA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N525WA), registered now, S/N 34-8070005, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-200T - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 348070005 - Airframe hours: 4826 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James C. Shumate - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 1997, 186 hours before - Departed: OWB, OWENSBORO, KY - Destination: 1A6 - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 1A6, Middlesboro-Bell County, runway 10, 3,630 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,251 total, 550 in this make and model, 3,251 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 10 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 19,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LOZ, 33 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 19980824022269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980824022269A), Aug 24, 1998: Piper PA34200T, Middlesboro, KY, Substantial damage. Acft landed blew a tire ran off the rwy into the grass, landing gear collapsed. Acft came to rest on its left side. (.4)the airplane was landing on runway 10,… 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.