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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 11, 1994 · Piper PA-28-181 · N8505E

Waynesboro, VA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 11, 1994
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 minor injuries)
Location
Waynesboro, VA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Tail Number
N8505E
Operator
White Sands Leasing
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO94LA132

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH HE REALIZED THAT HIS GROUND SPEED WAS HIGHER THAN HIS AIRSPEED. HE STATED THAT AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 50 TO 100 FEET HE DECIDED TO GO-AROUND, BUT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN LONG AND EXITED THE RUNWAY COLLIDING WITH A FENCE. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT MADE AN EXTREMELY HIGH APPROACH, AND THE PILOT INITIATED A SLIP TO LOSE ALTITUDE. ANOTHER WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 250 TO 400 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY DEPARTURE END WHEN IT TOUCHED DOWN. AN FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND THE ACCIDENT SITE STATED THAT THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES AFTER TOUCHING DOWN LONG, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WHEN HE EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF SPEED AND DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING OVERRUN. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S DELAY IN INTIATING A GO-AROUND.

Full Narrative

On August 11, 1994, at 1500 eastern daylight time, N8505E, a Piper PA-28-181, exited the runway and collided with the ground during landing at Eagles Nest Airport, Waynesboro, Virginia. The certificated private pilot and his three passengers received minor injuries while the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The personal flight was operated under 14 CFR 91 and originated in Georgetown, South Carolina. The destination was Waynesboro, Virginia. According to the pilot, he entered the traffic pattern and the airplane was at an altitude of 2000 feet MSL on final approach. He stated that he continued his approach to runway 6 and at about 50 to 100 feet above the ground, "I realized my ground speed was higher than my airspeed...I decided to go around, I advanced the throttle and the engine sputtered. I realized the engine was not going to produce sufficient power for a go-around...I pulled the power back and put the airplane on the runway with approximately 1000 feet of runway left." A witness reported that, "...the airplane made an extremely high approach and the pilot initiated a slip to lose altitude. Aircraft touched down at approximately 250 to 400 feet from the end of the runway." The aircraft exited the runway over a hill, through a fence and collided with a ditch. An FAA Aviation Safety Inspector reported that the pilot applied the brakes after touching down, but the airplane continued beyond the end of the runway off the 500 foot grass overrun and stopped about 200 yards beyond the airport boundary. He also stated that there was no evidence of mechanical malfunction noted.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 EDT
Nearest AirportEagles Nest (0nm)
Runway6
Runway Length2000 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-181
Tail NumberN8505E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWhite Sands Leasing
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4M · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor4
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 34 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 7 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data