Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Chester, Conn. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot was trying to land. The first two approaches terminated in go-arounds. On the third approach he felt that the airplane was high and fast, but decided to try to land anyway. The Cherokee touched down and overran the runway, going off the pavement and into a fence.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to execute a go-around following an approach that was high and fast, which resulted in a runway overrun.
NTSB Identification: ERA12CA436
This July 2012 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
I totally agree Sarah A.
I do not agree Dale Rust. I don’t know of any pilot friend (PPL or CPL) when I was training 20 years ago who had any difficulty holding approach speed well within acceptable limits.
After 2 go arounds, if this runway overrun was not partially due to weather or fuel issues, this pilot should be a librarian.
In my 50+ years of instructing and conducting flight reviews, I will say that the first thing to go for a pilot, proficiency-wise, is his/her ability to hold the proper airspeed on final. But then most Private pilots have never become proficient in that area in the first place. And it shows up when they transition to a heavier aircraft, believing in the myth that they must fly at a much higher airspeed on final … quite a few 182’s have gone off the other end of the runway on landing for that reason.
From NTSB Factual Data Report
Aircraft Make/Model: Piper/PA-28-236 (i.e. Dakota – not Cherokee)
Serial Number: 28-7911328 (i.e. early 1979)
Engine Make/Model: Lycoming / O-540 Series
PIC:Cert(s)./Rating(s): Private; Single Engine Land
Instrument Rating: None
Age: 76
Total Time All Aircraft : 1013
Last 90 Days Unk/Nr
Total Time Make/Model: 1013
The “Dakota” is a member of the Cherokee family i.e. a variation on the PA-28 airframe mostly consisting of a large engine and high gross weight. Other common variations are the Warrior, Archer and Arrow (or at least that was the line-up before the bottom fell out of the market back in the late 70’s, early 80’s)
His third attempt to land ??? There is no mention of this being a student pilot or any unusual weather conditions or even this being a difficult approach so I have to ask what properly trained pilot cannot get a Cherokee on the ground safely in three attempts. I am not sure if this guy should have a pilot license. Of course I am sure he can pass a 3rd class medical since this was not an LSA aircraft so at least we can feel safe in that reguard.