Piper PA 28-161 N3573X

Summary

On 21 June 1991 at about 17:40 local time, a Piper PA 28-161 registered N3573X, operated by Petaluma Aeroventure, was involved in an accident near Auburn, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 June 1991 at 17:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Auburn, California, United States

Nearest airport

Auburn (AUN)

Coordinates

38.9194, -121.0691

Aircraft

Piper PA 28-161

Registration

N3573X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Petaluma Aeroventure

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Petaluma → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91LA267

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S USE OF AN EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED FOR THE FINAL APPROACH, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO INITIATE A GO AROUND WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD LAND LONG ON THE RUNWAY. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LIMITED TOTAL EXPERIENCE OF THE STUDENT PILOT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE STUDENT WAS ON HER THIRD SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. SHE STATED IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THAT THE APPROACH ANGLE DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT AT AUBURN SEEMED NORMAL, HOWEVER, HER SPEED WAS TOO HIGH. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE WAY DOWN THE 3,100 FOOT LONG RUNWAY AND SHE SAID THAT JUST AFTER TOUCH DOWN SHE REALIZED THAT INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINED TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE APPLIED POWER TO ATTEMPT A GO AROUND, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT GET AIRBORNE AND IT COLLIDED WITH GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.