# NTSB WPR18LA275: Piper PA-32RT, N24BA, Malad, ID, September 26, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 26, 2018, 16:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Malad, ID - Coordinates: 42.170555, -112.28944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1706&lon=-112.2894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 98364 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98364/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98364 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA275 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to identify that he was not utilizing the full runway for takeoff, and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: takeoff distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he did not realize that he entered the runway at the taxiway intersection about halfway down the 5,000-ft-long runway. During the takeoff ground roll, the airplane’s speed was about 60 knots (below rotation speed) when he realized that the end of the runway was approaching, and he needed to either lift off or abort the takeoff. The pilot attempted to continue the takeoff, but the airplane would not lift off. The pilot subsequently applied the brakes to try and stop, however there was not enough runway remaining and the airplane continued off the end of the runway, over a road, and struck a drainage ditch. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that if the pilot had utilized the full available runway for the takeoff, or had aborted the takeoff sooner, the runway excursion would not have occurred. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 2018, about 1650 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T Lance, N24BA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Malad, Idaho. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 ferry flight. The ferry flight was originating from Malad City Airport, (MLD) Malad, Idaho, with a planned destination of Great Falls International Airport (GTF), Great Falls, Montana. The pilot reported that he did not realize that he entered the runway at the taxiway intersection about halfway down the runway. During the takeoff ground roll, the airplane’s speed was about 60 knots (below rotation speed) when he realized that the end of the runway was approaching, and he needed to either lift off or abort the takeoff. The pilot pulled up to takeoff, but he could hear the stall warning horn and the airplane was not lifting off the runway. The pilot subsequently applied the brakes to try and stop, however there was not enough runway remaining and the airplane continued off the end of the runway, over a road, and collided into a drainage ditch. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24BA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24BA-2019-12-06), registration cancelled 2019-12-06, S/N 32R-7887206, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32RT (300) - 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-7887206 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 5033 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-SIAD 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Biz Flyers LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2018, 30 hours before - Destination: GTF, Great Falls, MT - Airport: MLD, Malad City, runway 34, 4,950 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 8, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 90 total, 29 in this make and model, 46 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KMLD, 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 20180926016449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180926016449A), Sep 26, 2018: Piper PA-32RT-300T, Malad, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot did not begin take-off with appropriate amount of runway ahead of aircraft. Pilot could not rotate or perform a successful aborted take-off which then… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98364. 9.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 915 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11431022&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 8.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12503895&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Records excerpts (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 811 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11430600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Records-Rel.pdf 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.