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December 29, 1988 · Piper PA-28-161 · N28843

Avalon, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 29, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 4 uninjured
Location
Avalon, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-161
Tail Number
N28843
Operator
Aviation Clubs of Fullerton
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX89LA075

THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING ROLL AT CATALINA AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE END OF RUNWAY 22, WENT DOWN A STEEP SLOPE AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS FIRST APPROACH HAD BEEN TOO HIGH, SO HE MADE A GO-AROUND AND RETURNED FOR LANDING. THE PLT SAID HE THEN MADE A NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDED 200-300 FEET PAST THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. HE STATED THAT, 'I APPLIED NORMAL AND EVEN BRAKING PRESSURE, BUT THE PLANE DID NOT RESPOND AS I EXPECTED. INSTEAD IT DECELERATED VERY SLOWLY.' A WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN THE LAST THIRD OF THE RUNWAY; HE STATED THAT THE PILOT'S APPROACH SEEMED TO BE FASTER THAN NORMAL. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF THE AIRPLANE.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING ROLL AT CATALINA AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE END OF RUNWAY 22, WENT DOWN A STEEP SLOPE AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS FIRST APPROACH HAD BEEN TOO HIGH, SO HE MADE A GO-AROUND AND RETURNED FOR LANDING. THE PLT SAID HE THEN MADE A NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDED 200-300 FEET PAST THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. HE STATED THAT, 'I APPLIED NORMAL AND EVEN BRAKING PRESSURE, BUT THE PLANE DID NOT RESPOND AS I EXPECTED. INSTEAD IT DECELERATED VERY SLOWLY.' A WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN THE LAST THIRD OF THE RUNWAY; HE STATED THAT THE PILOT'S APPROACH SEEMED TO BE FASTER THAN NORMAL. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF THE AIRPLANE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:50 PST
Nearest AirportCATALINA (0nm N)
Runway22
Runway Length3240 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-161
Tail NumberN28843
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAviation Clubs of Fullerton
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D3G · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 4 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured4
Total5
Crew 1Age 30 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 15 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data