# NTSB SEA98LA183: Piper PA-28-180, N33321, Whidbey Airpark, WA, September 19, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 1998, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Whidbey Airpark, WA - Coordinates: 48.039207, -122.4393 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0392&lon=-122.4393&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 11, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45106 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45106/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA183 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudged her altitude and airspeed. Factors include a wet runway surface and high vegetation off the end of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) ## Analysis After arriving in the vicinity of the airport, the pilot canceled her IFR flight plan and proceeded VFR. While on final approach to the 2,400 foot wet runway, the pilot allowed her airspeed to become excessive, and after touchdown, she was unable to stop the aircraft in the remaining distance. After departing the runway, the aircraft impacted high vegetation and a thick berry briar. ## Factual narrative On September 19, 1998, approximately 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N33321, went off the end of the runway and collided with high vegetation at Whidbey Airpark, near Langley, Washington. The commercial pilot and her two passengers were not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Eugene, Oregon about 1000, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. While en route, the pilot had been on an IFR flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, who had canceled her IFR clearance upon arriving in the vicinity of Whidbey Island, she landed too fast on the 2,400 foot wet runway, and was unable to stop prior to reaching the end. After the aircraft departed the runway, it collided with heavy brush and a dense berry briar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N33321](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N33321), registered now, S/N 28-7505133, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7505133 - Airframe hours: 4330 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marikay And Paul Lindstrom - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 6, 1998, 13 hours before - Departed: EUG, EUGENE, OR - Destination: WA31 - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: WA31, Whidbey Airpark, runway 34, 2,400 × 25 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,245 total, 2,140 in this make and model, 2,026 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F ## 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 19980919034539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980919034539A), Sep 19, 1998: Piper PA28180, Langley, WA, Substantial damage. Although the pilot is experienced in short field operations, due to the unique conditions at this airport, she landed long and fast and was unable to stop on… 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.