Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA32-301FT near Brevard, NC — 2012-07-16

Final reportERA12CA464
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Date
2012-07-16
Location
Brevard, NC, USA
Airport
3NR3
Aircraft
PIPER PA32-301FT
Registration
N813TC
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

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 narrative

While on final approach to land, the pilot noticed a tree that was located near the end of the runway. To avoid the tree, he “stayed high” until he cleared the approach end of the runway and then attempted to “drop quickly” to the field. The airplane touched down on the left main landing gear roughly 2,000 feet beyond the threshold of the 2,900-foot-long runway, and the pilot applied the brakes. The pilot was unable to stop the airplane before it overran the runway. The right main landing gear struck an airport sign, and the airplane came to rest in brambles 100 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the airplane’s firewall was substantially damaged. During the examination, no evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation was discovered. During a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that, after the accident, he discovered that the tree he had attempted to avoid was actually located to the right of the runway.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

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