WICHITA, KS, USA
N8119W
PIPER PA-28-160
THE PILOT SAID HE ABORTED HIS FIRST LANDING APPROACH BECAUSE HE WAS TOO HIGH ON FINAL APPROACH. DURING HIS SECOND APPROACH THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND. A WITNESS STATED THE PILOT'S AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AT THE MID-FIELD LOCATION. SHE SAID SHE OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TIRES OR BRAKES. THE PILOT SAID HE DECIDED TO ABORT THE LANDING BECAUSE HE COULD NOT STOP THE AIRPLANE ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE, TREE, AND SWAMP NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE LANDING RUNWAY. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED A RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE COMPLETELY WORN THROUGH AND RUNWAY TIRE SKID MARKS ALIGNED WITH THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO USE AN AIMING POINT WHEN JUDGING HIS TOUCHDOWN POINT ON THE RUNWAY.
On February 6, 1994, at 1515 central standard time (CST), a Piper PA-28-160, N8119W, registered to Aero Flite of Norman, Oklahoma, and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with a fence, tree, and swamp. The collisions took place during initial climbout from a rejected landing on Runway 17 (2,520' X 30' dry asphalt) at the Westport Airport, Wichita, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight had not filed a flight plan. The pilot and three passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated from Tonkawa, Oklahoma, at 1400 CST. The pilot stated he made an approach to Runway 17 and "...figured out that I came too high and decided to go around before even touching down on the runway." The pilot stated he landed the airplane at the conclusion of the second final approach. He said: "After touching down I immediately took off the flaps...to have a better braking effect." His written statement continues: "... I figured out that I could not stop the plane before the end of the runway... ." The pilot said he added power for takeoff and did not "...gain enough height to pass the fence at the end of the runway." The pilot said the airplane crashed into a swamp at the departure end of Runway 17. An interview with the pilot confirmed his written statement on NTSB Form 6120.1/2. During the interview the pilot was asked how he judged whether the airplane he was flying would touch down on the first quarter of the runway. He was asked if he used an aiming point as a visual cue during final approach. The pilot said he did, and that it was "...where you aim to come down." When asked to be more specific about the aiming point use the pilot said he normally uses a stripe on the runway. He said he keeps the nose of the airplane on the stripe until it was time to land. The pilot was asked how the aiming point aids the pilot. He said it tells the pilot if he is high or low on final approach. The pilot was asked how the aiming point can tell the pilot if he is high or low on final approach. His response was that he did not know. He stated he did not use an aiming point during the landing that resulted in the accident. According to an eyewitness, N8119W touched down about the mid- field point. She said she thought she saw smoke from either the tires or brakes. The witness said the airplane became airborne and wallowed before it collided with the fence. N8119W's right wing struck a tree according to the witness. The Federal Aviation Administration Principal Operations Inspector (POI) interviewed the pilot and reported the pilot said he could not stop the airplane after landing and ran it into a fence. The POI said the pilot did not report a problem with the airplane. N8119W collided with a chain link fence and tree limb before coming to rest in a swamp. The airplane's right wing separated from the fuselage at the wing root. The right side of the stabilator was crushed inward and aft. Inspection of N8119W's right main landing gear tire revealed it had been worn through in one area. The worn area was elliptically shaped showing each ply of the tire. The inner tube for this tire was cut in half. It was found approximately 800 feet from the departure end of the runway. Black marks paralleling the runway centerline at mid- field and angling to its right side were in line with the airplane's final resting position.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND DELAY IN ABORTING THE LANDING. THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE TRAINING WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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