PIPER PA-46-350P
Statesville, NC — August 2, 2014
Event Information
| Date | August 2, 2014 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA14CA373 |
| Event ID | 20140803X82134 |
| Location | Statesville, NC |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 35.77996, -80.87925 |
| Airport | Statesville Regional |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA-46-350P |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | NITE |
| Weather | IMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 2 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 2 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path and airspeed on final approach, which resulted in a long landing and runway excursion.
Full Narrative
According to the pilot, she was flying an instrument landing system approach when she noted that the glide slope was out of service. She transitioned to a localizer-only approach and continued. Night, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed with a 400-foot ceiling. She noticed that the airplane was "high and fast" on final approach, so she used speed brakes and flaps to slow the airplane and descend to the minimum descent altitude. As the airplane descended below the ceiling, she observed runway lights and attempted to land on the runway. The airplane landed long, departed the runway at the departure end, and struck an embankment before coming to rest. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.