The pilot reported that the flight departed about two hours after sunset and that, several minutes after departure, the Piper PA-28-235’s lights began to dim.
He reduced the electrical load. however, within several minutes, the airplane lost all electrical power.
He chose to continue to the destination airport, which was 21 nm from the departure airport and was within sight.
Upon reaching the airport in Brooksville, Florida, the pilot used the runway end identifier lights and the runway’s visual approach slope indicator lights to guide the plane to the runway threshold.
Due to the lack of electrical power, he was unable to use the airplane’s radio to activate the other available runway lighting or use the landing lights to help him further locate the runway after crossing the threshold.
He misjudged the airplane’s height above the runway, and, during the landing flare from an estimated height of about 4 or 5 feet, the airplane hit the runway. It then veered right, left the runway, hit an airport sign, and was substantially damaged.
A post-accident examination revealed that the alternator had failed, which likely led to the airplane’s total loss of electrical power.
Review of the airplane’s maintenance logs found that no maintenance related to the alternator had been documented in the airplane’s 50-year and 2,600-flight-hour history.
A survey of airports near the airplane’s route of flight showed no continuously lighted airports located within a reasonable distance of the airplane’s route.
The NTSB determines the probable cause as the pilot’s loss of directional control while landing at night, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with airport signage. Contributing to the accident was the total loss of electrical power, which necessitated the pilot having to land without the aid of the airplane’s landing lights and some of the available runway lighting.
NTSB Identification: ERA14LA244
This May 2014 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.
Would someone explain how a pilot lands a seaplane at night??
HMMMM.
This was avoidable.
Apparently he was never taught.
My CFI flew PBY Catalinas during WWll.
I was very lucky to have him.
Ha,Hahahahahahahahahaha, this clown dosen’t deserve any more than a stupid laugh for a stupid decision, and for not maintaining his aircraft. Not even giving a thought to the age of the alternator, ( 50 years ) come on, this act deserves the donkey award for the year…
Well said Joe.
Does it say how long the pilot owned this airplane?
As far as we know he could have bought it last month.
And it could have been sold with a “Fresh Annual”.
Like so many of them are.
I hope you are as forgiving on yourself in the future.
Landing on a black runway is a tough maneuver. 20-20 hindsight is even tougher. FWIW, at least one well known aviation maintenance lecturer advocates “fix on failure” for non critical parts. The problem, of course, is what is a “non critical” part? For day VFR neither battery or alternator are necessary by regulation or good practice. The pilot may or may not have strss tested his battery to assure it would carry a full charge. He may also have omitted the load meter or whatever from his scan. Would the outstanding pilots who have never, EVER changed an alternator solely based on time in service, nor missed the discharge indication in their scan please raise the right hand and accept our admiring ooohs! and aaahhhs?
Wow.!! A lot of stupid pilot tricks on this one.!
– poor maintenance. At 2600 hrs, the alternator field brushes are worn. so, for a $5 set of brushes the pilot wrecks the aircraft.
– after 2 minutes the lights dim.! Why not return to the departure airport and land with the remaining battery power….and it sounds like an un-airworthy, old battery.
– with a 7000 ft runway, why not just let the aircraft settle-on gently ?
– this guy is an A&P.? I wouldn’t let him touch my aircraft.!
– for night flights, why not carry a handheld radio ?
A hand held radio costs about $250, cheap insurance especially for night flying.
Why did the pilot not turn off the master switch and save the battery for landing and last minute requirements? That is one of the things that I do when training pilots.