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NTSB Report

June 2, 2004 · Piper PA-28-181 · N39678

Dunsmuir, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 2, 2004
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Dunsmuir, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Tail Number
N39678
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX04CA236

The pilot landed, overran the 2,700-foot runway, and impacted a berm off the departure end of the runway. The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight and mistook the accident airport for her destination airport, which is nearby and has a 5,000 foot-long runway. She landed and could not stop the airplane prior to the runway's termination. Review of the airplane's landing performance chart revealed that if the pilot landed the airplane at maximum gross weight with full flaps extended, it should have stopped at the 1,100-foot mark. The pilot landed with the flaps retracted. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies with the airplane or engine.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's misjudgment of speed and distance, which resulted in an overrun of the runway. The pilot's failure to use flaps and his landing at an airport with a runway shorter than he expected is a contributing factor.

Full Narrative

On June 2, 2004, at 1300 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N39678, overran runway 32 and collided with a berm during landing at the Dunsmuir Municipal - Mott Airport, Dunsmuir, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight that originated from Novato, California, at 1120. The flight was destined for Weed, California. According to the pilot's written statement, she terminated her VFR flight plan after passing Redding's very high frequency omni-directional range (VOR) navigation system. When she cancelled her flight plan, she was informed that she was about 30 miles south of her destination airport (Weed is approximately 58 miles north-northwest of the Redding VOR). As the pilot proceeded along her route, she noticed an airport with the runway numbers 32/14, which happened to be the same runway numbers for Weed. The pilot overflew the airport, and thought that it was her planned destination airport. She landed the airplane, but could not stop the airplane prior to the departure end. The airplane departed the runway, overran a ditch, and impacted a small hill, where it came to rest. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage and landing gear system. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies with the airplane and its engine prior to the accident. Review of the Klamath Falls sectional aeronautical chart revealed that Dunsmuir's airport was 15 miles southeast of Weed's airport. Dunsmuir's airport elevation is 3,258 feet mean sea level (msl), and Weed's airport elevation is 2,938 feet msl. To the north of Dunsmuir (by 9 miles), and to the east of Weed (by 12 miles), stands Mt. Shasta at 14,162 feet msl. Runway 32/14 at Dunsmuir is 2,700 feet long and 60 feet wide. Runway 32/14 at Weed is 5,000 feet long and 60 feet wide. The pilot reported that the visibility was 10+ miles and the sky was clear. Photographs taken at the accident site revealed that the flaps were in the retracted position. Review of the PA-28-181 pilot operating handbook's (POH) landing distance performance chart revealed that the airplane's landing distance (at maximum gross weight with full flaps extended, and the atmospheric conditions experienced by the pilot) should have been no more than 1,100 feet.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 PDT
Nearest AirportDunsmuir Municipal - Mott (0nm)
Runway32
Runway Length2700 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-181
Tail NumberN39678
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A414 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 66 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter29.87 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data