Piper PA-32R-301 N8409A

Summary

On 14 January 1993 at about 06:00 local time, a Piper PA-32R-301 registered N8409A, operated by High Cotton, Inc., was involved in an accident near Goldsboro, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were 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

14 January 1993 at 06:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Goldsboro, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Goldsboro Wayne Muni (GWW)

Coordinates

35.4908, -77.9799

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-301

Registration

N8409A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

High Cotton, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Winnsboro → Kinston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL93LA050

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION IN ATTEMPTING A NIGHT LANDING AT AN AIRPORT WITHOUT OPERATING RUNWAY LIGHTS WHICH RESULTED IN A TOUCHDOWN OFF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AN AIRPLANE LIGHTING MALFUNCTION FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S) AND THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 40 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION, THE AIRPLANE'S LIGHTS BLINKED ON AND OFF DUE TO A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM. HE ELECTED TO LAND AT GOLDSBORO, AWARE THAT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED ABOUT 20 FT LEFT OF THE RUNWAY, IN THE GRASS, AND COLLIDED WITH A PIECE OF CULTIVATING EQUIPMENT. DURING EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE, THE LANDING LIGHT WAS OPERATED SEVERAL TIMES & FUNCTIONED NORMALLY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.